L. Allison Roberts

Dr. L. Allison Roberts holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom. She received her M.A. in international relations and public policy (Purdue University) and B.A.s in both political science and history (Purdue University). Roberts has taught and researched within the U.S. as well as the United Kingdom.

Roberts has studied military, veteran and service personnel issues for almost two decades. Her Ph.D. research explored the life stories of ex-service personnel who experienced a traumatic injury (such as limb loss, hearing loss, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury or blindness) and were subsequently medically separated, or medically discharged. Using life stories, Roberts examined the physical, emotional, social and institutional dimensions of life during recovery, rehabilitation and onwards. This qualitative research drew upon the multidisciplinary fields of sociology, critical military studies, illness narratives, traumatic injury, critical disability studies, psychology, ageing, embodiment and identity.

While pursuing her Master’s degree, Roberts worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters, Washington, D.C., in the Deputy Administrator’s Office for a summer. She was a visiting scholar in the School of Geography, Politics, and Sociology at Newcastle University in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom (supervisor: Professor Rachel Woodward). For her visiting scholar fieldwork, Roberts did qualitative research on the cultural and social integration of U.S. Air Force members and their families at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England.

• Doctorate – sociology – University of Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom
• Master's – political science – Purdue University, Indiana, USA
• Bachelor's – political science – Purdue University, Indiana, USA
• Bachelor's – history – Purdue University, Indiana, USA