Stacy Hawkins has been named the new managing director of research and evaluation at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University. Hawkins, who is recognized nationally as a behavioral research scientist, brings over 15 years of experience in applied research related to the health, resilience, and readiness of military service members, veterans, and their families.
Hawkins previously served as chief of family research and principal investigator at Booz Allen Hamilton. There, she led a multidisciplinary team that produced technical reports, policy briefs, and peer-reviewed publications for use by military leaders and program designers. Her earlier roles include researcher positions at the University of Arizona and the RAND Corporation. Her work has been published in journals such as Family Process, Journal of Family Psychology, Military Behavioral Health, and Evaluation Review.
In her new position at IVMF, Hawkins plans to expand the institute’s research agenda by focusing on at-risk populations within the veteran community. She also aims to develop partnerships that build on IVMF’s interdisciplinary foundation.
“I’ve always been drawn to applied research. Even in graduate school, I knew I wanted my work to not only be high-quality, but to have a meaningful impact on real people,” says Hawkins. “The IVMF’s work is exceptional—I’ve followed it for years, especially on the research and evaluation side. I love bringing data, evidence and science into the conversation for policymakers and program leaders, giving them findings they can apply in ways that truly help.”
According to Ray Toenniessen, deputy executive director of the IVMF: “Syracuse University is proud to be an R1 institution where research drives national impact. Stacy brings academic rigor and a deep understanding of the human experiences behind the data. Her expertise in the military and veteran community has already produced impactful work, and we look forward to her leadership in ensuring our research at the D’Aniello IVMF remains both relevant and actionable.”
Hawkins’ career includes leading large-scale projects for federal agencies such as the Department of Defense. These projects have examined topics like parental leave in the military, effectiveness of family programs, and mental health outcomes for youth connected with military families. Her findings have informed how social support systems are designed within military settings.
She holds both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology from Claremont Graduate University as well as a bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University. Hawkins has also served as keynote speaker at events including those hosted by the Association of the United States Army.
Her appointment continues IVMF’s tradition of contributing data-driven insights to national discussions about veterans’ issues such as employment opportunities, entrepreneurship support programs, access to education resources for veterans’ families, and successful reintegration into civilian communities.
