Sarah Bouthillier
Nashville
Summary
Motivated and compassionate emerging social worker with strong experience supporting caregivers, survivors, and families through trauma-informed, strengths-based practice. Skilled in active listening, rapport building, and navigating emotionally charged situations with empathy and professionalism. Experienced in working with diverse populations through research, crisis response, and direct support roles. Brings a person-in-environment perspective shaped by work with vulnerable families, survivors of sexual assault, and cross-institutional research teams. Dedicated to promoting relational well-being, equity, and culturally responsive care within clinical and community settings.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project Coordinator
Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College
Nashville
01.2024 - Current
- Coordinated two federally funded NSF and NIH studies on early childhood environments, managing recruitment of 200 families.
- Served as primary liaison between institutions and community partners while overseeing IRB processes and regulatory compliance.
- Trained and mentored undergraduate and Master’s students, fostering an inclusive lab culture through one-on-one support.
- Conducted trauma-informed caregiver interviews and coded parent–child interactions to ensure data integrity.
- Collaborated with software engineers to troubleshoot devices for optimal data collection from TotTags, LENAs, and Apple Watches.
- Managed financial workflows including budgets, participant payments, and protocol preparation for NSF.
- Oversaw day-to-day project operations across Vanderbilt and Meharry Medical College for effective study execution.
Research Assistant
Vanderbilt University
Nashville
04.2023 - 04.2024
- Assisted senior researchers with study design and implementation on social cognition and related topics.
- Contributed to literature reviews, hypotheses formulation, and methodological development.
- Recruited and coordinated human participants while ensuring ethical standards and informed consent.
- Collected and analyzed data using SPSS and Excel; prepared summaries for research team presentations.
- Maintained accurate documentation of research protocols and participant information.
Teaching Assistant
Belmont University
07.2023 - 12.2023
- Led review sessions, tutored students, taught course material, and facilitated class discussions.
- Responded to student inquiries, provided clarifications, and offered additional guidance.
- Supported students in developing study strategies and understanding course concepts.
- Worked with lead instructor to prepare presentations and cover material.
Development Intern, Chairperson of the Legislative and Victim Advocacy Committee
Sexual Assault Center
Nashville
08.2022 - 01.2023
- Collaborated in the successful management of Mad Hatter, the center's flagship fundraiser, leading to a fundraising achievement of over $300,000.
- Cultivated valuable relationships by engaging with local university Title IX offices, facilitating a robust partnership between the Sexual Assault Center and academic institutions to enhance resources for student support.
- Collaborated with the development team to troubleshoot and rectify technical issues within Network for Good, streamlining fundraising efforts and improving donor engagement.
- Chaired the Legislative and Victim Advocacy Committee, actively participating in meetings with lobbyists to advocate for necessary exceptions in the recent abortion legislation, which was passed in July 2020.
Peer Mentor
STARS, Students Achieving Results through Service
Nashville
04.2021 - 12.2021
- Worked one-on-one with a group of 16 students in a program focused on providing access to prevention, intervention, and treatment services within schools and communities.
- Supported students facing challenges such as trauma, violence, PTSD, substance abuse, depression, grief, and bullying.
- Assisted students in developing resumes, applying for jobs, and preparing college applications.
- Collaborated with students on a summer-long project aimed at improving the efficiency of the outreach site and benefiting others in the community.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Psychological Science, Legal Studies
Belmont University
Nashville, TN12.2023
Skills
- Active listening and reflective communication skills
- Rapport building and empathic attunement
- Cultural humility and person-in-environment understanding
- Crisis support and de-escalation skills
- Collaborative, strengths-based problem-solving
Additional Experience
Administrative Assistant, Consolidated Resources, Seasonal 2019-Present
- Managed high-volume communication (phone, email, client coordination), building strong organizational and interpersonal skills essential for client-facing social work environments.
- Supported environmental consultants by preparing reports, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring regulatory compliance—strengthening attention to detail, documentation, and ethical practice.
- Coordinated office logistics, billing, and project tracking, developing multitasking, problem-solving, and administrative skills transferable to case management and agency-based work.
Certification
- Reimagining CARE: Vicarious Trauma, Community Healing and Sexual Violence, Sexual Assault Center, 2024
- Certificate of Impactful Leadership, Kappa Alpha Theta, 2023
- Conflict of Interest, CITI Program, 2023
- Social Behavioral Educational Student Researchers - Human Subjects Research, CITI Program, 2021
- PCIRS-IA Certified Coder, Vanderbilt University, 2024
Presentations And Invited Lectures
- Bouthillier, S., (2023, Nov.) Understanding Attachment Styles in the Influencer Age. Invited Lecture presented at Front Page Science, Belmont University, Nashville, TN
- Ware, E., Bouthillier, S., Sells, E., & Johnson, H., (2023, Nov). Performance Under Pressure: Does Stress Impact Emotional Recognition? Paper presented at the Student Undergraduate Research Symposium, Nashville, TN.
- Bouthillier, S., DeRosa, C., Grescovik, A., Lincoln, M., & Walling, H., (2023, April). Examining the Relationship Among Narcissism, Self-Esteem, and Friendship Jealousy. Paper presented at Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium, Nashville, TN.
- Bouthillier, S., Grescovik, A., et al., (2023, April) The Effects Environmental Enrichment on Extrinsic Motivation in Rodents Models. Paper and poster presented at the Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium, Nashville, TN.
- Bouthillier, S., Brook, A., Dabdoub, K., & El-Henu, (2022, Nov). The Relationship Between Personality Traits and Self-Control. Paper presented at the Student Undergraduate Research Symposium, Nashville, TN.
References
- Kathryn Humphreys, Ph.D., Ed.M., Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 230 Appleton Place #552, Nashville, TN, 37203, kathryn.humphreys@vanderbilt.edu, 615-268-6895
- Patrick Morse, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Belmont University, McWhorter Center, Nashville, TN, 37212, patrick.morse@belmont.edu, 615-460-6257
- Whitney Barnett, Ph.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, School of Global Public Health, Meharry Medical College, 2020 Meharry Blvd, Nashville, TN, 37208, whitney.barnett@mmc.edu
Timeline
Project Coordinator
Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College
01.2024 - Current
Teaching Assistant
Belmont University
07.2023 - 12.2023
Research Assistant
Vanderbilt University
04.2023 - 04.2024
Development Intern, Chairperson of the Legislative and Victim Advocacy Committee
Sexual Assault Center
08.2022 - 01.2023
Peer Mentor
STARS, Students Achieving Results through Service
04.2021 - 12.2021
Bachelor of Science - Psychological Science, Legal Studies
Belmont University