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Teaching Researching and Understanding the Social Science of Trust (TRUSST) Lab[1]

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The TRUSST lab brings together students from across Michigan State University to increase the theoretical and practical implications of scholarly efforts to expand our understanding of trust. The efforts listed here include all student- and faculty-lead projects conducted within or supported by the lab. For more information about the lab’s vision, structure, and members, please see our website (www.TRUSSTLab.com).

 

Lab Alumni Placement

  • Dr. Makayla Burden (MSU School of Criminal Justice, ’26; Dissertation Chair: Chris Melde) – Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies, University of Mississippi.

  • Dr. John W. Ropp (MSU School of Criminal Justice, ’26; Dissertation Chair: Joseph A. Hamm) – Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office.

  • Dr. Travis Olson (MSU Department of Educational Administration, ’25; Dissertation Chair: Brendan Cantwell) – Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Foundations of Education.

  • Dr. Yang (Vincent) Liu (MSU School of Criminal Justice, ’25; Dissertation Chair: Tom Holt) – Oakland University, Criminal Justice.

  • Dr. Amanda Isabel Osuna (MSU School of Criminal Justice, ’23; Dissertation Chair: Joseph A. Hamm) – University of Tampa, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

  • Dr. Jenna Van Fossen (MSU Department of Psychology, ’23; Dissertation Chair: Chu-Hsiang (Daisy) Chang) – Clemson University, Department of Psychology.

  • Dr. Katie Darcy (MSU School of Criminal Justice, ’22; Dissertation Chair: Joseph A. Hamm) – University of Michigan, Dearborn; Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies.

 

External Funding Secured

  • Military Sexual Trauma Experiences of Female Veterans in Michigan; NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship (2023-2024; PI: Makayla Burden; Dissertation Chair: Chris Melde). Total Award: $116,692 

  • Unpacking Trust for the Future of Society: Anonymous Foundation Gift (2022-2027; PI: Joseph A. Hamm). Total Gift: $100,000

  • Speak Up MSU: Office of the MSU Provost (2022-2023; PI: Amanda Osuna).  Total Funds: $45,500

  • Courts and Online Dispute Resolution during the Coronavirus Pandemic: MSU College of Social Science Thompson Research Scholars (2020; PI: John Ropp). Total Award: $600

  • Trust Before, During, and After Deployment, MSU Department of Social Work (2020; PI: Elizabeth Meier). Total Award: $600

 

Completed Dissertations

  • Burden, M. (2026). Military sexual trauma of female veterans. (Dissertation Chair: Chris Melde)

  • Ropp. J.W. (2026). Trial court legitimacy: Procedural fairness, Judicial Vulnerability, and the dialogic model. (Dissertation Chair: Joseph A. Hamm)

  • Olson, T. (2025). Building trust in and through big data? A psychometric exploration of artificial intelligence adoption at a research university (Dissertation Chair: Brendan Cantwell).

  • Osuna, A. I. (2023). Understanding vulnerability, trust, and distrust in the student-university relationship (Dissertation Chair: Joseph A. Hamm). ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global. https://doi.org/doi:10.25335/3d27-j717

  • Darcy, K. (2022). Exploring Institutional Sexual Assault, Betrayal, and Trust-Based Harm (Dissertation Chair: Joseph A. Hamm). ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global. https://doi.org/doi:10.25335/4dqm-mz48

 

Peer Reviewed Publications

  • Osuna, A.I., Williams, T., Gómez, J., Estefania, G., Castaldelli, G., & Hamm, J.A. (2025). Examining the generational intersection of interpersonal, cultural, and institutional betrayal in Flint, Michigan. Journal of Community Psychology. 53(6), e70032. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcop.70032

  • Osuna, A.I., Darcy, K., Prior, S., Olson, T., & Hamm, J.A. (2025). Students‘ experienced harm at higher education institutions: A qualitative study. Innovative Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-024-09756-y

  • Van Fossen, J. A., Bakare, O., Olson, T., Zwickle, A., & Hamm, J. A. (2025). The dynamics of trust in (and trustworthiness of) a government agency: A longitudinal perspective. American Review of Public Administration, 55(1), 28-40. https://doi.org/10.1177/02750740241283031

  • Hamm, J. A., Möllering, G., & Darcy, K. (2024). Integrating focal vulnerability into trust research. Journal of Trust Research, 14(2), 237-255. https://doi.org/10.1080/21515581.2024.2375802 [open access]

  • Hamm, J.A., Carrera, J., Van Fossen, J., Key, K., Woolford, S. J., Bailey, S. B., McKay, A., Evans, L., Calhoun, K. (2023). Conceptualizing trust and distrust as alternative stable states: Lessons from the Flint Water Crisis. Ecology and Society. 28(3), art. 14. https://doi.org/doi:10.5751/ES-14410-280314 [open access]

  • Hamm, J. A., Ropp, J. W., Witwer, A., & Scott, B. A. (2024). Self-efficacy, prosocial impact, and self-legitimacy as psychological predictors of judicial officer performance. Public Administration Review, 84(4), 710-725. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13723 [open access]

  • Van Fossen, J. A., Ropp, J. W., Darcy, K., & Hamm, J. A. (2022). Comfort with and willingness to participate in COVID-19 contact tracing: The role of risk perceptions, trust, and political ideology. Social Science & Medicine, 306, 115174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115174 [open access]

 

Book Chapters

  • Olson, T. Soltis, B.M., Fortman, J., & Hamm, J.A. (forthcoming). Artificial intelligence and racialized vulnerability within US Higher Education. In S. Schafheitle, R. Searle, & A. Nienaber (Eds.) Trust in the Age of AI – Bringing Humans back to the Centre. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

  • Darcy, K., Meier, E., Osuna, A. I., Van Fossen, J. A., Ropp, J., & Hamm, J. A. (2025). Exploring power, vulnerability, and trust in public governance through the lens of Feminist Intersectionality. In F. Six, E. van Zimmeren, J. A. Hamm, K. Verhoest, & D. Latusek (Eds.) Handbook on Trust in Public Governance (pp. 258-273). Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

  • Latusek, D., Hamm, J.A., Op de Beeck, S., Ropp, J., Six, F., van Zimmeren, E., & Verhoest, K. (2025). Trust and public governance: Scoping the field. In F. Six, J. A., Hamm, D. Latusek, E. van Zimmeren, & K. Verhoest (Eds.) Handbook on Trust in Public Governance (pp. 1-23). Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

 

Practitioner Reports

  • Osuna, A. I., Scarpelli, S., Chan, W., Finley, D., & Hamm, J. A. (2023). Speak Up MSU: Understanding student vulnerability, trust, and distrust at Michigan State University. Report prepared for research partners [Michigan State University Office of the Provost]. Available on request to research partner.

  • Hamm, J. A., Ropp, J. W., Scott, B., & Witwer, A. R. (2021). Virtual Courtroom Survey: Analysis Report. Report prepared for research partners [Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office]. Available here.

  • Osuna, A. I., Darcy, K., Woessner, Z. W., & Hamm, J. A. (2021). Perceived student vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Available here.

  • Van Fossen, J. A., Ropp, J. W., Darcy, K., Woessner, Z., Osuna, A. I.., Meier, E., & Hamm, J. A. (2020). CyanoHAB Outreach in Michigan: Survey Report. Report prepared for research partners [Michigan Department of Health and Human Services]. Available here.

  • Ropp, J. W., Darcy, K., Meier, E., Osuna, A. I., Van Fossen, J., Woessner, Z., Hamm, J. A. (2020). Public expectations regarding online dispute resolution: A comparison of dispute resolution processes during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Available here.

 

Presentations

  • Grignon, E., Wyzykowski, A., & Hamm, J.A. Navigating trust in democracy: AI, electoral integrity, and the future of governance. Presented at the 2025 First International Network of Trust meeting in Genoa, Italy.

  • Hamm, J.A., Banning, A., Kim, M., Liu, V., Olson, T., Osuna, A.I., Williams, T., Burden, M., & Carrera, J. Moving from “is” to “ought”: Vulnerability as a lens for reconceptualizing the implications of trust for policing. Presented at the 2025 First International Network of Trust meeting in Genoa, Italy. [Finalist for the FINT Best Paper award: High Societal Relevance]

  • Osuna, A.I., Grignon, E., Hamm, J.A., Gomez, J., Williams, T., & Castaldelli, G.G. Examining the intersection of generational (dis)trust and cultural betrayal in Flint, Michigan. Presented at the 2024 American Society of Criminology Meeting in San Francisco, CA.

  • Williams, T., Zwickle, A., Salangi, L., & Hamm, J.A. Fostering trusting relationships between health agencies and citizens: Centering community vulnerability and increasing perceptions of awareness. Presented at the 2024 American Public Health Association meeting in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

  • Hamm, J. A., Carrera, J., Van Fossen, J., Key, K., Woolford, S. J., Bailey, S. B., McKay, A., Evans, L., & Calhoun, K. Conceptualizing trust and distrust as alternative stable states: Lessons from the Flint Water Crisis. Presented at the 2023 First International Network of Trust meeting in Helsinki, Finland. [Finalist for the FINT Best Paper: High Societal Relevance award]

  • Osuna, A. I. Understanding vulnerability, trust, and distrust in the student-university trust relationship. Presented at the 2023 First International Network of Trust meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

  • Olson, T. H. Meeting the challenge of quantification in higher education: Building trust in and through data. Presented at the 2023 Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Conference in Minneapolis, MN.

  • Van Fossen, J., Hamm, J. A., Bakare, O., & Zwickle, A. Disentangling trust and risk as drivers of compliance with a governance agency. Presented at the 2023 First International Network of Trust meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

  • Van Fossen, J., Hamm, J. A., Bakare, O., & Zwickle, A. Is trust self-reinforcing? Insights into the dynamics of perceived trustworthiness and organizational trust. Presented at the 2023 First International Network of Trust meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

  • Darcy, K. Institutional sexual assault, trust, betrayal, and harm. Presented at the 2022 First International Network of Trust meeting in Charleston S.C.

  • Osuna, A. I., Darcy, K., Woessner, Z., Van Fossen, J. A., Meier, E., Carter, T., Green, B., & Hamm, J.A. Student’s perceived vulnerability and trust in higher education institutions: A qualitative study. Presented at the 2022 First International Network of Trust meeting in Charleston, SC.

  • Ropp, J., Darcy, K., Meier, E., Osuna, A. I., Van Fossen, J. A., Woessner, Z., & Hamm, J. A. Mobilizing the law: The role of vulnerability and court process in the decision to file a small claims suit. Presented at the 2022 First International Network of Trust meeting in Charleston S.C.

  • Van Fossen, J. A., Ropp, J. W., Darcy, K., & Hamm, J. A. Willingness to participate in COVID-19 contact tracing: The role of risk perceptions, trust, and political ideology. Presented at the 2022 First International Network of Trust meeting in Charleston S.C.

  • Ropp, J., Hamm, J. A., Meier, E., Darcy, K., Osuna, A., Van Fossen, J., & Woessner, Z. Choosing to access the courts: The role of vulnerability and court process in the decision to file a small claims suit. Presented at the 2021 Law and Society Association meeting [held online because of COVID].

  • Viviano, K., Hutzel, L., Hamm, J. A., & Latusek, J. (2021). COVID-19 and the Virtual Courtroom. Presented at the Michigan Judicial Institute Annual Judicial Conference, Online.

 

Practitioner Resources

  • 2022 (Funder Report) - Identifying the trustworthiness of COVID-19 information sources: Enhancing information reception across the population. The British Academy.

  • 2019 (Article) - Understanding Public Trust in the Courts: The Centrality of Vulnerability. Court Review.

  • 2017 (Handout) -  Talking about Trust 

  • 2017 (Blog post) - Water, Trust, and the Shadow of Flint. Games 4 Sustainability.

 

Recorded Presentations​

  • 2024 (Podcast episode) Trust, Policing, and Public Safety. Trust Talk Podcast.

  • 2022 (Podcast episode) Who Do We Trust -- And Why? State of the State Podcast.

  • 2021 (Seminar) - How Vulnerability Shapes Public Trust. Reinhard Mohn Institute for Management Research Seminar.

  • 2018 (Conference presentation) - ​Building Public Trust through Access to Justice and Public Engagement: Science, Strategies, and Tools. National Association for Court Management Annual Meeting

  • 2017 (Conference presentation) - Community Engagement in the State Courts: Learn about the Tools Developed to Engage with Minority and Disadvantaged Communities. National Association for Court Management Annual Meeting

 

 

 

[1] Note. Lab members are designated in bold. Authors who were students during the preparation of the content are underlined.

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