Elizabeth Burgess Dowdell, PhD, RN, AFN-C, FAAN, is a Professor and Coordinator for Undergraduate Research at the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University. Dr. Dowdell has made major contributions quantifying the health risks facing populations with vulnerabilities across the lifespan by studying infant abductions, children raised by grandparents, victims of domestic violence, and pediatric health risk behaviors.  

Dr. Dowdell is a certified advanced practice forensic nurse and accomplished scholar, recognized for her expertise in violence, trauma, human trafficking, and forensic nursing. She has been federally funded to identify the interrelationships among various forms of youth risk with technology such as cyber-aggression, cyber-bullying, sexting, and sleep texting. A productive researcher and thought leader, her current research centers on examining adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), social media use by school shooters, workplace violence, and patterns of homicide. Her scholarship has advanced the evidence base for trauma-informed care, violence prevention, and the health outcomes of populations with vulnerabilities. A dedicated mentor, Dr. Dowdell guides doctoral and undergraduate students conducting research on violence, human trafficking, trauma-informed nursing interventions, and risk-taking behaviors. Her commitment to developing the next generation of nurse scientists and leaders has contributed to a growing body of impactful scholarship.