Research Summary

Sonia Salari PhD FGSA is a sociologist with expertise in family violence, aging, diversity and public policy. Known as an advocate for victims of intimate partner violence IPV, child, & elder abuse, she examines fatalities across age grps. She has authored journal articles, chapters and two books: Family Violence Across the Life Course: Research, policy and prevention (2021 2nd Ed; pp.456) and Family Violence and Abuse: An encyclopedia of trends, issues, and solutions (2023; pp. 836)

Education

  • Ph.D., Sociology, State University of New York at Albany. Project: Informal and Formal Spheres of Interaction and Support by Race: An Analysis of Interdependencies and Compensations in Later Life. Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Publishing Co.
  • National Institute on Aging Postdoctoral Fellowship, Carolina Population Center--Demography, University of North Carolina

Biography

Sonia Salari, PhD FGSA is Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Studies University of Utah and Fellow, Gerontology Society of America. Her focus includes abuse in interpersonal relationships across the life course, formal service use, public policy and aging in underrepressented communities. Known as an advocate for victims of IPV, child and elder abuse, she is involved in the community as Chair of the Board of Directors - Utah Domestic Violence Coalition (UDVC) and co-founder of Utah Gender Based Violence Consortium. She is PI of the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) Campus Grant on domestic/dating violence, sexual assault and stalking (with UDVC). Her research focuses on family violence, elder abuse, and interpersonal violence, including fatalities.  She has a number of publications in journals, chapters and two books Family Violence Across the Life Course: Research, policy and prevention (2021 2nd Ed.) and Family Violence and Abuse: An encyclopedia of trends, issues, and solutions (forthcoming 2023).  Dr. Salari has taught over two decades at the University of Utah including courses FCS5370 Family Violence (CW) and FCS 5343/6343 Family Policy and Advocacy where students partner with non-profit organizations to lobby the Utah State Legislature. Her teaching has won awards, including the University Distinguished Teaching Award.