Molly Ellenberg grew up in San Jose, California and earned a B.S. in Psychology with a Specialization in Clinical Psychology from UC San Diego before moving to Washington, D.C. to complete an M.A. in Forensic Psychology from the George Washington University. Molly's research interests have long focused on violent group behavior, but her specific interest in terrorism and violent extremism was sparked during two internships and the National Center for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism [START] at UMD. She has since worked as a Research Fellow at the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism, where she has published multiple scholarly articles and traveled to Brussels, Belgium to meet with European Union officials regarding ISIS.

Outside of her academic work and research, Molly has been a serious dancer for many years, performing with a contemporary dance company in college and most recently teaching ballet in Washington, D.C.

Areas of Interest

  • Group violent behavior
  • Violent Extremism
  • Terrorism
  • The quest for meaning and significance
  • Gangs

Degrees

  • M.A.
    Forensic Psychology, The George Washington University
  • B.S.
    Psychology with a Specialization in Clinical Psychology, UC San Diego

Awards

  • Norman J. Anderson Honors Thesis Award for Outstanding Translational Research
  • B.B. Robbie Rossman Annual Memorial Child Maltreatment Research Award

Conferences

  • NATO Advanced Research Workshop: Post-ISIS Era: Regional and Global Implications
  • International Summit on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma 2017
  • International Summit on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma 2016

Research

  • Terrorism, Radicalization, and Violent Extremism
Headshot of Molly Ellenberg