Our Research

Hazing destroys lives.
Hazing prevention saves lives.
In partnership with and , researchers at the University of Maine work to develop evidence-based approaches to reducing the prevalence and harms of hazing.

Hazing Prevention Research Lab at the University of Maine.

Shining a Light on Hazing

An engine for multidisciplinary collaboration, the Hazing Prevention Research Lab is a virtual hub to connect experienced researchers, developing scholars and students interested in investigating key questions to inform the developing knowledge base about hazing and its prevention.
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As part of our effort to prioritize and amplify hazing prevention, we’re excited to announce a new . This project will be directed by Dr. Elizabeth Allan — Principal Investigator of the original study and the world’s leading scholar of hazing prevention. Dr. Allan and her team are dedicated to conducting rigorous research about hazing and its prevention, research that informs practice for harm prevention and the promotion of healthy groups, and research that ultimately saves lives and creates a better world.Ěý

You can support and amplify this work by giving to our

Publications

Our peer-reviewed articles, reports, strategic briefs and other research informs policy, shapes practice and strengthens hazing prevention efforts.

  • Franklin, D., & Allan, E. (2025). Examining factors perceived to enable and deter student reports of hazing. Journal of American College Health, 1–9.
  • Kerschner, D., & Allan, E. (2025). Student and varsity athlete hazing at NCAA Divisioin III institutions: Predictive factors and implications for preven-tion. Journal of Higher Education, Athletics, Labor & Innovation, 1(2), 85–117.
  • Allan, E. J., Kerschner, D., & Franklin, D. (2025). Exploring the Perceived Impact of a Multi-Year Campus Hazing Prevention Initiative at Eight Universities. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
  • Allan, E. J., Stewart, K., & Kerschner, D. (2024). What Does It Take? Reframing Organizational Commitment to Campus Hazing Prevention. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 1–16.
  • Berry-Caban, C. S., Petrillo, C. L., Allan, E. J., Kerschner, D. J., Holland, A., Nash, L. N., Roby, A., Orchowski, L. M. (2024). Service members’ attitudes toward reporting hazing incidents. Military Medicine. 
  • Gillon, K. E., Allan, E. J., Beatty, C. C., Salinas, C., & Kerschner, D. J. (2024). Troubling rigor: Exploring intersections of campus hazing and white supremacy. Innovative Higher Education.
  • Kerschner, D. J., & Allan, E. J. (2024). We don’t haze: Testing the effectiveness of a video-based hazing prevention training for college students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
  • Allan, E. J., Gillon, K. E., Beatty, C. C., Salinas Jr., C., & Kerschner, D. J. (2024). Unsettling tradition: Exploring intersections of campus hazing and white supremacy. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education.
  • Metzger, E. C., Bennett, J. N., Berry-Cabán, C. S., Allan, E. J., Guenthner, C., Meerhaeghe, B. M., Borsari, B., Kazemi, D. M., & Orchowski, L. M. (2022). Perceptions of Hazing Among Young Male United States Military Service Members: A Qualitative Analysis. Cogent Psychology, Article OAPS 2083864.
  • Swan, S., Allan, E. J. (2022). Assessing Readiness for Campus Hazing Prevention. Health Education and Behavior. 1-9.
  • Marchell, T. C., Santracrose, L. B., Laurita, A. C., & Allan, E. J. (2022). A public health approach to preventing hazing on a university campus. Journal of American College Health. 
  • Kerschner, D. & Allan, E. J.  (2021). Examining the nature and extent of hazing at five NCAA Division III institutions and considering the implications for prevention. Journal of Amateur Sport, 7(1), 95-118.
  • Malaret, S., Allan, E. J.,  Graham, G., Esquenazi, C., Bacon, D. & Whalen, P.(2021). Teaching student leadership, ethics, and group responsibility for hazing prevention: An exploratory study.Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship, 3(1), 17-33.
  • Allan, E. J., Hakkola, L.H., & Kerschner, D. (2020). High school hazing prevention and gender:  Implications for school counselors. Journal of School Counseling.
  • Allan, E .J., Kerschner, D. & Payne, J. (2019). College student hazing experiences, attitudes, and perceptions: Implications for prevention. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56(1) 32-48.
  • Hakkola, L., Allan, E., & Kerschner, D. (2019). Applying utilization-focused evaluation to high school hazing prevention: A pilot intervention. Journal of Evaluation and Program Planning.
  • Allan, E. J., Payne, J. & Kerschner, D. (2018). Transforming the culture of hazing: A research-based hazing prevention framework. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 55(4) 412-425. 
  • Veliz, D. & Allan, E. (2017). Defining hazing: Gender differences. Oracle, 12(2), 12-25.
  • Allan, E. J. & Madden, M. (2012). The nature and extent of college student hazing. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 24(1), 1-8.

College

  • Allan, E.J. and Kerschner, D.J. (2024), Hazing and Its Prevention in Collegiate Athletics, Johnson, J. and Chin, J.W. (Ed.) Cultures of Sport Hazing and Anti-Hazing Initiatives for the 21st Century (Research in the Sociology of Sport, Vol. 23), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 119-144. 
  • Kerschner, D., & Allan, E. (2021). Examining the Nature and Extent of Hazing at Five NCAA Division III Institutions and Considering the Implications for Prevention. Journal of Amateur Sport, 7(1).
  • Malaret, S., Allan, E. J., Graham, G., Esquenazi, C., Bacon, D. & Whalen, P. (2021). Teaching student leadership, ethics, and group responsibility for hazing prevention: An exploratory study. Journal of Campus Activities Practice and Scholarship, 3(1), 17-33.
  • Allan, E. J., Joyce, B., & Perlow, E. (July, 2020). Fraternity and sorority hazing: A practitioner’s guide to relevant research and recommendations for prevention. White Paper for the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors (AFA).
  • Allan, E. J. & Kerschner, D. (2020). The pervasiveness of the hazing phenomenon. In Meriwether, J. (Ed.). Dismantling hazing in Greek Letter organizations: Effective practices for prevention, response, and campus engagement (pp. 1-31). Washington, DC: NASPA press.
  • Allan, E. J. & Meriwether, J. L. (2019, October). Preventing Campus Hazing: VPSAs Can Help Lead the Institutional Commitment to Change. Leadership Exchange. NASPA.
  • Allan, E. J., Payne, J., & Kerschner, D. (2018). Hazing Prevention Toolkit for Campus Professionals. In collaboration with the Clery Center. .
  • * Allan, E .J., Kerschner, D. & Payne, J. (2019). College student hazing experiences, attitudes, and perceptions: Implications for prevention. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56(1) 32-48. (Innovation in Research and Scholarship Feature article).
  • * Allan, E. J., Payne, J. & Kerschner, D. (2018). Transforming the culture of hazing: A research-based hazing prevention framework. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 55(4) 412-425.  DOI: 10.1080/19496591.2018.1474759. (Innovation in Research and Scholarship Feature article).
  • * Allan, E. J. & Madden, M. (2012). The nature and extent of college student hazing. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 24(1), 1-8.
  • * Allan, E. J. & Madden, M. (2010, May). The prevalence, tolerance, and significance of hazing on U.S. college campuses. The Bulletin. (magazine of the Association of College Unions International).
  • Allan, E. J. & Madden, M. (2007, Fall). “Yeah, but it wasn’t hazing!”: Research-based insights on why students underestimate hazing. AFA Essentials. Association of Fraternity Advisors publication.
  • Allan, E. J. & McKaig, D. (2007, Winter). Hazing on campus: Beyond the Greeks. Leadership Exchange. 4(4), 12-17. NASPA publication for Senior Student Affairs Administrators.

High School

  • * Allan, E. J., Hakkola, L.H., & Kerschner, D. (2020). High school hazing prevention and gender:  Implications for school counselors. Journal of School Counseling.
  • * Hakkola, L., Allan, E., & Kerschner, D. (2019). Applying utilization-focused evaluation to high school hazing prevention: A pilot intervention. Journal of Evaluation and Program Planning.
  • Allan, E. J., Hakkola, L. & Kerschner, D. (2018). Improving school climate with hazing prevention: A pilot study. Maine Schools in Focus. (Journal of the College of Education and Human Development). October 2018.
  • Allan, E. J., & J. Payne (2016). We don’t haze: Program materials for working with high school students. In collaboration with the Clery Center.  .

Gender and Hazing

  • Allan, E. J. & Kinney, M. (2018). Hazing and gender: Lenses for prevention. In Nuwer, H. (Ed.). Destroying Young Lives: Hazing in Schools and the Military (pp. 100-115). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
  • * Veliz, D. & Allan, E. (2017). Defining hazing: Gender differences. Oracle, 12(2), 12-25. 
  • Allan, E. J. (2005, Winter). Analyzing the obvious: Applying a gender lens to understand the problem of hazing. Interfraternity Bulletin.  North American Interfraternal Foundation, 6-8.
  • Allan, E. J. & DeAngelis. G. (2004). Hazing, masculinity and collision sports: (Un)becoming heroes.  In J. Johnson & M. Holman (Eds.), Making the team: Inside the world of sport hazing and initiations (pp. 61-80). Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press.
  • Allan, E. J. (2003). Gender and hazing: Analyzing the obvious. In H. Nuwer (Ed.). The hazing reader: Examining rites gone wrong in fraternities, professional and amateur athletics, high schools and the military (pp. 275-294). Bloomington, IN:  Indiana University Press.

Hazing and Sexual Violence

  • Goodwin, Kayla E., “Investigating the Intersections of Interpersonal Violence: Identifying Risk and Protective Factors for Hazing” (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3161.

General

  • Allan, E. J., Payne, J., & Kerschner, D. (2016). We don’t haze: A companion prevention brief for general audiences. In collaboration with the Clery Center.  .

* = Also a peer-reviewed publication

These briefs are developed in partnership with colleagues at the Hazing Prevention Research Lab and StopHazing. Created for professionals, campus leaders, and students committed to ending hazing, they translate StopHazing’s leading research into clear, practical guidance. Each brief provides actionable insights, research-informed strategies, and focused recommendations designed to strengthen prevention efforts, improve group and team cultures, and foster safer, more inclusive communities.

– This brief provides a concise overview of three hazing-related federal requirements and practical guidance for implementation, shaped by the most common questions campus practitioners, leaders, and community members bring to StopHazing

Consulting and subject-matter expertise

Dr. Elizabeth Allen has testified before the U.S. Senate and been invited to serve as a subject matter expert in various legislative and military round tables.

  • Grants:
  • Preventing Sexual Violence towards Male Victims through Targeting Hazing Behavior. Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program. Department of Defense. Sub-award in collaboration with the Geneva Foundation and Brown University.
  • Subject Matter Expertise:
  • Legislative Briefing (2018). Served as subject matter expert on hazing and hazing prevention for Congressional staff. July 25, 2018, Rayburn Building, Washington, D.C.
  • U.S. Department of Defense (2017). Served as subject matter expert on hazing and sexual assault for Department of Defense Symposium on Male Sexual Assault in the U.S. military. SAPRO Office. November 01, 2017.
  • U.S. Department of Defense (2017). Served as subject matter expert for Department of Defense think tank on prevention of sexual assault and hazing in the U.S. military. SAPRO Office. November 30, 2017.
  • U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. (2016). Provided expert testimony about student hazing for Senate Round Table on Campus Safety. .

Interested in Collaborating with Us?

Contact us to learn more about partnership, research, or advisory opportunities.

College of Education and Human Development
5766 Shibles Hall
Orono, ME 04469
Tel: 207.581.2441 | coehd@maine.edu