Dr. Dawood received her B.S. in Biology and Psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She subsequently earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from northwestern University in 2001. Dr. Dawood completed her predoctoral internship training, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship in Psychiatric Genetics, in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago.

Prior to her relocation to State College, Dr. Dawood was on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago from 2003-2007 where she was actively involved in research, and training and supervision of doctoral level psychology students and psychiatry residents. In addition, Dr. Dawood served as the Director of the Gender Identity Clinic in the section of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She has particular expertise in the fields of human sexuality and childhood gender identity, and the treatment of adolescent eating disorders, women’s mental health, and marital therapy.

Since 2007, Dr. Dawood has been a member of the faculty of the Pennsylvania State University. She holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology, and the Center for Developmental and Health Genetics. She regularly teaches undergraduate psychology courses, and conducts family and twin studies on the behavior genetics of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Dr. Dawood is a member of the Association for Psychological Science (APS), the Behavior Genetics Association (BGA), and the International Academy of Sex Research (IASR). Since 2005 she has also served as a member of the editorial board of the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Dr. Dawood is licensed to practice psychology in Illinois and Pennsylvania.