Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology

Research

My personal and professional values have been greatly shaped by the belief that all individuals have the right to reach and enjoy their full human potential as defined by "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (World Health Organization definition of mental and physical health). As a result, my professional path has focused on the way structural and psychological variables affect the well-being of those individuals who are disenfranchised by economic and social inequalities, as well as by human rights violations. My work history primarily reflects the larger philosophical question of how individuals can reach their full potential and how communities and cultures can act to impede or facilitate this potential.

In examining this theme in multiple cultural and interdisciplinary contexts, I have created and implemented projects on: victimization and homelessness; domestic violence; cross-cultural constructions of sexuality and reproductive health; human rights and mental health; sex work and migration. More recently, my research has examined the effectiveness of housing and social services for homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities and substance use problems.  In my current position as the Director of Research at a non-profit organization, I am currently investigating how previously homeless individuals with multiple disabilities have integrated into the communities they live in.

Biography

I have spent most of my career bridging research, teaching, policy work and community service. For example in 1993, I founded and directed a women’s organization, where we designed and implemented research, training, advocacy and information dissemination programs to increase human rights awareness, influence social policies and effect changes in national laws.  Between 1996 and 2000, I provided technical assistance to health-service delivery and advocacy organizations by helping build organizational capacity, identifying priorities and strengths and repackaging information gathered from research to formats readily accessible to general audiences. Since 2001, I have been the Director of Research at a non-profit organization working to provide housing and mental health services to formerly homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities. In addition, I have taught graduate and undergraduate classes in psychology and presently teach cross-cultural psychology as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University.

Publications

Gulcur, L., Tsemberis, S., Stefancic, A., & Greenwood, R.M. (2006). Community integration of adults with psychiatric disabilities and histories of homelessness (submitted for publication).

Padgett, D.K, Gulcur, L. & Tsemberis, S. (2006).  Housing First services for people who are homeless with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance abuse. Research on Social Work Practice, 16, 74-83.

Tsemberis, S., Gulcur, L., & Nakae, M. (2004).  Housing first, consumer choice, and harm reduction for individuals who are homeless with dual diagnosis: A 24-month follow-up. American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 94:4, 651-656.

Gulcur, L., Stefancic, A., Shinn, M., Tsemberis, S., & Fischer, S. (2003). Housing, hospitalization and cost outcomes for homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities participating in continuum of care and housing first programmes.  Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, Vol. 13, 171-186.

Gulcur, L., & Ilkkaracan, P. (2002).  The ´´Natasha´´ experience:  Migrant sex workers from the former Soviet Union in Turkey. Women’s Studies International Forum, Vol. 25, No. 4.

Gulcur, L. (2000).  Evaluating the role of gender inequalities and rights violations in women's mental health. Health and Human Rights, Vol.5, No. 1, 46-66.

Gulcur, L. (1996).  Violence against women in the family: The Ankara study.  InP. Ilkkaracan, L. Gulcur, C. Arin (Eds.), The Myth of the Warm Home (Sicak Yuva Masali).  Istanbul: Metis Publications.

Gulcur, L., & Galinsky, E. (1993).  The role of gender and child care experiences in work-family conflict and stress.  Community Psychologist, 27:2, 41-44.

Address

Dr. Leyla Gulcur
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology
6 Washington Place
New York University
New York, NY 10003
leyla.gulcur@nyu.edu

Updated