Research Associate
Office: HP 310 | Email: leona.peterson@austin.utexas.edu
Leona Peterson, Ph.D., LMSW, is a research associate at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work’s Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health. Her research focuses on peer provided mental health services at Texas LMHAs and COSPs, as well as mental health self-directed care.
Leona received her Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her dissertation focused on the incidence of restraint, seclusion, and suicide for people with schizophrenia. She has extensive experience conducting research on mental health, teaching on the topics of research and mental health, and as a provider at several mental health service organizations. A self-described certificate collector, she is a licensed private pilot, scuba diver, and yoga instructor.