Dr. Rosemary Hughes is the principal investigator of a UMT and Oregon Health Sciences University subcontract that addresses the identification and reporting of violence by women with disabilities. She holds a PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Houston, an MS in education from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and a BA in sociology from St. Mary’s College, Leavenworth, KS. She is a licensed psychologist with clinical, teaching, and research experience in health and mental health.  Rosemary is the former Director of the Center for Research on Women with Disabilities and Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.  She has served as principal investigator on projects investigating the health promotion, stress, depression, and self-esteem of women with disabilities.  Her projects have been funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, the Christopher Reeve Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health.  Rosemary’s primary research interests include abuse and violence against people with disabilities and depression in the context of disability. She has published more than 25 articles or book chapters and presented nationally and internationally on issues related to the health and mental health of women with physical disabilities.

Originally from Butte, Rosemary has returned to Montana after living and working in several other states for many years.  Rosemary and Mick (husband) moved to Missoula in the fall of 2006 so that Rosemary could focus her research activities on rural health and disability. They are excited to live near many other close family members who reside in Missoula and other parts of the state.