Elena Klaw

Professor Department of Psychology elena.klaw@sjsu.edu

Current Research Activities

I am currently most interested in best practices in serving military veterans in higher education and the effects of peer leadership experiences on student veterans.

Research Connections to Current Events

I began working with veterans as a result of my decade long involvement in domestic violence research and prevention programming at SJSU. A colleague with whom I had served as a consultant through my role as a Director of the Center for Community Learning & Leadership invited me to serve as a co-PI on a grant related to understanding domestic violence risk for veterans. The qualitative and quantitative research we conducted led me to propose an academic course pertaining to veterans’ transition home to the civilian world. I currently offer the course through the Psychology Department and have developed a peer leadership program similar to the efforts I conducted in the relationship violence field. I also serve as co-advisor of the Veteran Student Organization and had the opportunity to chair the SJSU Veterans Advisory Committee.

Personal Connections to Research

I come from a family of Holocaust survivors and thus have always been fascinated with understanding factors associated with resilience, the ability to overcome hazardous life circumstances and trauma.