Pepperdine News and Events

GSEP Associate Professor is Featured in the Monitor on Psychology

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) Associate Professor Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis’ work on human trafficking has attracted the attention of the American Psychological Association (APA). A story on her research is featured in the May issue of Monitor on Psychology. 

Dr. Bryant-Davis argues that the worldwide epidemic of human trafficking is the equivalent of modern-day slavery and calls on colleagues within psychology to become “millennium abolitionists.”  She is working to raise awareness of human trafficking, ensure appropriate evaluation and treatment of survivors and understand the motivations of perpetrators.  She and her graduate students hold workshops across the United States to educate vulnerable populations on warning signs that can lead to trafficking.

The Department of State estimates that as many as 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States each year.  Unknown to most, a good number of Americans are being trafficked out of the country as well.  “We are living during slavery.” says Bryant-Davis. “Our youth are vulnerable to trafficking, particularly when they are uninformed.  We have to make a decision.  Are we going to stay on the sidelines or are we going to use our science, our clinical skills and our advocacy opportunities to combat modern-day slavery?” she asks.