Dr. Sylvia C. Washington is a public health researcher and sociologist whose work examines how gender, race, identity, community, and social context shape experiences of firearm violence, violence prevention, and safety. She serves as Director of Community Engaged Research and Partnerships at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she leads and contributes to community-engaged research focused on community violence intervention, firearm violence prevention, and health equity.

Dr. Washington’s research centers the perspectives and expertise of communities most affected by firearm violence, with a particular emphasis on women, Black women, and other historically underrepresented populations. Her scholarship examines the intersection of identity and firearm violence, the experiences and well-being of people working to prevent violence, and the role of community power and partnership in shaping research and prevention strategies. Through this work, she seeks to translate evidence into equitable, culturally responsive, and community-informed policies, programs, and practices.

Dr. Washington holds a PhD in Education from Indiana University Bloomington, with additional academic training in sociology, criminal justice, and education. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates community-engaged and qualitative research with perspectives on intersectionality, identity, and health equity. Her broader scholarly agenda is focused on building a more community-engaged and intersectional understanding of who experiences firearm violence, who works to prevent it, how systems engage individuals and communities, and how their experiences can inform more effective solutions.

In addition to her research and academic leadership, Dr. Washington is the founder of Identity Developer Consulting, LLC. Across her research, leadership, and community partnerships, she is committed to building meaningful bridges between research institutions and communities, elevating community expertise, and ensuring that people most affected by firearm violence have a meaningful role in shaping the research, policies, and programs intended to serve them.https://insssc.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-hopkins-bsph.png