Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) Faculty Directory

David M. Almeida
Professor of Human Development
B.A., 1987, Psychology, California State University, Northridge
M.A., 1990, Psychology, University of Victoria
Ph.D., 1993, Psychology, University of Victoria
Areas: Human Development, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations: Center for Healthy Aging
Research Interests:

Daily stress processes; adult development; family factors in mental health; work and family linkages; fatherhood; statistical techniques for measuring change.

dalmeida@psu.edu

Mayra Bamaca-Colbert
Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
B.A., 2001, Psychology (Summa cum laude) Department of Psychology, California State University-Northridge
M.S., 2003, Human and Community Development, Department of Human and Community Development, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ph.D., 2008, Family and Human Development, School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University
Areas: Human Development, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Adolescent development and adjustment among ethnic minority youth, with an emphasis on Latino adolescents living in the U.S.  

myb12@psu.edu

Leann L. Birch
Distinguished Professor of Human Development, Director, Center for Childhood Obesity Research
A.B., 1971, Psychology, California State University, Long Beach
A.M, 1973, Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Ph.D., 1975, Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Areas: Human Development, Domains of Health and Behavior
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

A contextual approach to the development of problems of eating and energy balance: The links among parents' own eating and weight status, parenting practices, and child outcomes from infancy through adolescence, with a current focus on the emergence of dieting and problems of energy balance in girls during middle childhood and early adolescence. 

llb15@psu.edu

Sy-Miin Chow
Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
Ph.D., Quantitative Psychology, University of Virginia
Areas: Methodology
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Development and adaptation of modeling and analysis tools that are suited to evaluating linear and nonlinear dynamical systems models, including longitudinal structural equation models and state-space modeling techniques.

symiin@psu.edu

H. Harrington (Bo) Cleveland
Associate Professor of Human Development
B.A., 1988, Political Science, St. Mary's College of Maryland
J.D., 1991, Boston College Law School
Ph.D., 1998, Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona
Areas: Human Development, Domains of Health and Behavior
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Interaction of genetic and environmental influences on adolescent and young adult risk-behaviors, including alcohol and tobacco use, aggression, and delinquency; contribution of traits to the selection and modification of social contexts.

hhc10@psu.edu

J. Douglas Coatsworth
Professor of Human Development and Professor-in-Charge, Graduate Program
A.B., 1983, Psychology and Social Relations, Harvard College, Cambridge MA
Ph.D., 1991, Clinical Psychology/Child Development University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Post-doctoral, 1991-1994, Prevention Science, Arizona State University Training, Tempe, AZ
Areas: Domains of Health and Behavior, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations: Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development
Research Interests:

Prevention research and theory; design and evaluation of family-based interventions to promote development and to prevent mental health and behavioral problems in children and adolescents; resilience.  

jdc15@psu.edu

Linda M. Collins
Professor, Human Development and Family Studies and Statistics; Director, Methodology Center
B.A., 1977, Psychology, University of Connecticut
Ph.D., 1983, Quantitative Psychology, University of Southern California
Areas: Domains of Health and Behavior, Methodology
Center Affiliations: Methodology Center
Research Interests:

Research methods; experimental and non-experimental design, particularly for building and evaluating behavioral interventions; models for longitudinal data; latent class analysis.

LMCollins@psu.edu

Shannon Corkery
Instructor and Coordinator for HDFS World Campus Development
Ph.D., 2012, Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
M.S., 2011, Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
B.S., 2008, Human Development & Family Studies and Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
Areas: Human Development
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:
sac301@psu.edu

Sherry Corneal
Associate Professor of Human Development
B.S., 1974, Individual and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
M.S., 1987, Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D., 1990, Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
Areas: Methodology
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Family systems theory and family therapy; individual counseling; methodologies to study the individual in depth.  

ccc3@psu.edu

Molly Countermine
Instructor, Human Development and Family Studies
Ph.D., 2012, Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State
Areas: Human Development
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Infant sleep patterns an behaviors; parenting.

msc7@psu.edu

Jennifer L. Crissman Ishler
Senior Instructor in Human Development and Family Studies
B.S., 1991, Elementary Education, Millersville University
M.S., 1993, Counseling, Shippensburg University
D.Ed., 1999, Higher Education Administration, The Pennsylvania State University
Areas:
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

First year seminars, assessment in student affairs, gender issues.  

jxc51@psu.edu

Ann C. Crouter
Dean, College of Health and Human Development and Professor of Human Development
B.A., 1976, Psychology/English, Stanford University
Ph.D., 1982, Human Development and Family Studies, Cornell University
Areas: Human Development, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Inter-relationships of parents' employment situations, family processes, and children's and adolescent's social development; gender socialization in middle childhood and adolescence.  

ac1@psu.edu

Anthony R. D'Augelli
Professor and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Outreach
B.A., 1968, Psychology/Social Sciences, New College of Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
M.A., 1970, Clinical/Community Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Ph.D., 1972, Clinical/Community Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Areas: Contexts and Social Institutions, Populations of Special Interest
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Community interventions; issues in the development of sexual orientation.  

ard@psu.edu

David J. Eggebeen
Associate Professor of Human Development and Sociology
M.A., 1981, Sociology, Rutgers University
M.A., 1984, Sociology, University of North Carolina
Ph.D., 1986, Sociology, University of North Carolina
B.A., 1975, Sociology, Calvin College
Areas: Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Intergenerational support over the lifecourse; fatherhood; young adulthood. 

e5x@psu.edu

Gregory M. Fosco
Assistant Professor of Human Development
B.S., 1999, Psychology, University of California, Davis
M.S., 2006, Child Development, University of California, Davis
Ph.D., 2008, Clinical Psychology, Marquette University
Areas:
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Family systems processes and children’s social-emotional development; family-centered preventive interventions for youth emotional and behavioral problems; interparental conflict and child development; emotion regulation and self-regulation; family process influences on father-child relationships and youth outcomes.

gmf19@psu.edu

Lisa Gatzke-Kopp
Assistant Professor of Human Development
Ph.D., 2003, University of Sourthern California, Clinical Neuroscience
B.S., 1996, University of California, Santa Barbara, Biopsychology
Areas: Human Development, Domains of Health and Behavior
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Developmental neuroscience of psychopathology, with a particular focus on how children develop behavior problems such as aggression, hyperactivity, and substance abuse. Research has shown that such problems likely evolve when innate vulnerability interacts with environmental stressors. Understanding the neurobiological dysfunction that contributes to this vulnerability informs the identification of experiential and environmental factors that exacerbate or ameliorate risk. Identification of these factors positions researchers, and eventually policy makers, to implement changes in the environment that may alter these trajectories and improve developmental outcomes.  

lmk18@psu.edu

Charles F. Geier
Assistant Professor of Human Development
B.S., 2000, Biological Science/Psychology, Ohio University
M.S., 2002, Neuroscience, Ohio University
Ph.D., 2009, Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh
Areas: Human Development, Domains of Health and Behavior
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Developmental cognitive neuroscience, with particular focus on reward processing, basic cognitive control abilities, and their interaction; understanding the relationship between adolescent neurodevelopment and risk taking behavior; nicotine dependence in adolescent and young adult smokers.

cfg2@psu.edu

Scott D. Gest
Associate Professor of Human Development
B.A., 1987, Interdisciplinary Studies, UNC- Chapel Hill
1994-1995, Medical Psychology Intern, Duke University Medical Center
Ph.D., 1995, Developmental-Clinical, University of Minnesota
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1995-1997, Center for Developmental Science, UNC-Chapel Hill
Areas: Human Development, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations: Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development
Research Interests:

Peer relations from childhood through adolescence; peer influences on academic adjustment, self-concept, aggressive behavior and substance use; teacher influences on classroom social dynamics; school-based preventive interventions; applications of social network analysis to study these issues.

gest@psu.edu

Mark T. Greenberg
Edna Peterson Bennett Endowed Chair in Prevention Research, Professor of Human Development and Psychology
Ph.D., 1978, Developmental Psychology (Minor in Pediatric Psychology/Child-Clinical), University of Virginia, Charlottesville
B.A., 1973, Johns Hopkins University: Baltimore, Maryland
M.A., 1976, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
Areas: Human Development, Domains of Health and Behavior, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations: Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development
Research Interests:

Intervening in the developmental processes in risk and non-risk populations with a specific emphasis on aggression, violence, and externalizing disorders; promoting healthy social and emotional development; school-based prevention.  

mxg47@psu.edu

Kathryn Hynes
Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and Demography
Ph.D., 2005, Sociology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
B.A., 1994, Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
M.A., 1997, Women's Studies, Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ
Areas: Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Child and family policy topics including child care, after-school programs, youth programs, and welfare; work-family issues; parents' and youths' time allocation decisions; demography; gender and the life course.

kbh13@psu.edu

Rukmalie Jayakody
Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and Sociology Associate Director, Population Research Institute
B.A., 1989, Sociology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
M.S.W., 1990, Social Work (Social Policy), University of Michigan
M.A., 1992, Sociology, University of Michigan
Ph.D., 1996, Sociology, University of Michigan
Areas: Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

International population health, community randomized trials, the impacts of developent on culture change, social change and families, mixed methods research, the impacts of poverty on child development.

jayakody@psu.edu

Patricia (Tish) Jennings
Director of World Campus Program, Human Development and Family Studies; and Research Assistant Professor, Prevention Research Center
M.Ed., 1980, Education, St. Mary's College, Moraga, CA
B.A., 1977, Psychology, Antioch College West, San Francisco, CA
Ph.D., 2004, Human Development, University of California Davis
Areas: Domains of Health and Behavior, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations: Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development
Research Interests:

The development of wisdom, social and emotional competence, mindful awareness, and resilience across the lifespan and its relationship to healthy adaptation.

paj16@psu.edu

Sarah Kollat
Senior Instructor in Human Development and Family Studies
B.A., 2003, Psychology, Youngstown State University
M.S., 2004, Developmental Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D., 2007, Developmental Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
Areas:
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Interrelations between family climate, children's self-views, and children's peer relationships; behavioral therapy in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders. 

sxh345@psu.edu

Eva S. Lefkowitz
Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, and Professor-in-Charge, Undergraduate Program
B.A., 1990, Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
M.A., 1993, Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles
Ph.D., 1998, Developmental Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles
Areas: Human Development, Domains of Health and Behavior
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Development during adolescence and emerging adulthood, with a focus on sexual health and development, risky behaviors, romantic relationships, and religiosity.

exl20@psu.edu

Eric Loken
Research Associate Professor, Human Development
B.A., 1992, Philosophy (minor in Mathematics), McGill University
M.A., 1994, Developmental Psychology , University of Michigan
A.M., 1997, Statistics, Harvard University
Ph.D., 2001, Developmental Psychology, Harvard University
Areas: Methodology
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Methodology; latent class analysis; academic interventions for adolescents; cognitive ability in preschool children.  

loken@psu.edu

Jennifer L. Maggs
Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
B.A. (Honours), 1986, Psychology, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
M.A., 1990, Developmental Psychology, University of Victoria, BC, Canada
Ph.D., 1993, Developmental Psychology, University of Victoria, BC, Canada
Areas: Human Development, Domains of Health and Behavior, Methodology
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Adolescent social development and health; transition to adulthood; risk behaviors, particularly alcohol use; prevention science; research methods.  

jmaggs@psu.edu

Lynn M. Martire
Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
B.A., 1988, California State University, Psychology
M.A., 1990, California State University, Psychology
Ph.D., 1997, Kent State University, Social Psychology
Areas: Domains of Health and Behavior
Center Affiliations: Center for Healthy Aging
Research Interests:

Family relationships and management of chronic illness in adulthood; couple-oriented interventions; chronic pain; late-life depression 

lmm51@psu.edu

Susan M. McHale
Director, Social Science Research Institute Professor of Human Development
B.A., 1975, Psychology, Bucknell University
M.A., 1979, Developmental Psychology, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Ph.D., 1979, Developmental Psychology, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Areas: Human Development, Contexts and Social Institutions, Populations of Special Interest
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Family relationships and family roles (particularly gender roles) in childhood and adolescence; differential socialization of siblings.  

x2u@psu.edu

Peter Molenaar
Distinguished Professor of Human Development
B.A., 1972, Psychology, cum laude, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
B.A., 1976, Philosophical Logic, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
M.A., 1976, Mathematical Psychology, cum laude, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
M.A., 1976, Psychophysiology, cum laude, University of Utrecht , The Netherlands
Ph.D., 1981, Social Sciences, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
Areas: Methodology
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Single-subject time series analysis, optimal guidance of developmenal processes, optimal control of disease processes, structural equation modeling, dynamic factor analysis and P-technique.  

pxm21@psu.edu

Nilam Ram
Associate Professor, Human Development and Psychology
B.A., 1992, Economics, Columbia University
M.S., 2000, Kinesiology, University of Colorado
Ph.D., 2006, Psychology, University of Virginia
Areas: Human Development, Methodology
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Changes in the psychological processes of emotion, personality, and cognition, how they develop over the course of the lifespan, and how intraindividual change and variability study designs can contribute to our understanding of human behavior.  

nur5@psu.edu

Michael J. Rovine
Professor of Human Development
B.S., 1971, Mathematics, University of Pennsylvania
M.S., 1979, Ed. Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
Ph.D., 1982, Ed. Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
Areas: Methodology
Center Affiliations: Methodology Center
Research Interests:

Environmental psychology; structural modeling with both continuous and discrete variables; analyzing longitudinal data.  

mr7@psu.edu

Martin J. Sliwinski
Director, Center for Healthy Aging; Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
B.A., 1986, Interdisciplinary Studies, Georgetown University, Washington DC
Ph.D., 1992, Psychology (Neuropsychology), City University of New York
Areas: Human Development, Domains of Health and Behavior
Center Affiliations: Center for Healthy Aging
Research Interests:

Cognitive aging; adult development; stress, health and cognition; early detection of dementia; web-based survey research and cognitive testing, intensive measurement designs (measurement bursts, daily diaries and experience sampling), statistical methods for analysis of intraindividual variability and change

mjs56@psu.edu

Edward A. Smith
Interim Director, Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development
B.S., 1971, Frostburg State College
M.A., 1972, West Virginia University
Dr. P.H., 1983, University of North Carolina
Areas: Domains of Health and Behavior, Methodology
Center Affiliations: Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development
Research Interests:

Adolescent development with a focus on the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to prevent problem behaviors.  

eas8@psu.edu

Emilie Phillips Smith
Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
B.A., 1982, with High Honors, Psychology and Afro-American Studies, Smith College, Northampton, MA
M.A., 1986, Ecological/Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Ph.D., 1990, Ecological/Community Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Areas: Contexts and Social Institutions, Populations of Special Interest
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Home, school, and community partnerships in development and prevention; afterschool settings and positive youth development; the role of identity, race, ethnicity, and sociocultural factors in child, adolescent, and family development.  

emilieps@psu.edu

Cynthia A. Stifter
Professor of Human Development and Psychology
B.A., 1975, Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park
M.S.W., 1978, Clinical Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Ph.D., 1987, Human Development, University of Maryland, College Park
Areas: Human Development
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Socio-emotional development in infants, toddlers, and preschool children, specifically focused on temperament, emotion regulation and its impact on early behavior problems and physical health. Other research areas: developmental psychophysiology, infant crying and colic, parental regulation strategies, positive emotions.  

tvr@psu.edu

Dawn Taylor
Assistant Professor and Director, HDFS Internship Program
1989, Ph.D., Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
1978, B. S., Psychology, Southern Illinois University
1982, M.S., Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
Areas: Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Human Services Management and Administration; Community Development and Relations; Youth Development/At-risk Children and Youth; Grant Development

dgt12@psu.edu

Douglas M. Teti
Professor, Human Development, Psychology, and Pediatrics, and Associate Director, Social Science Research Institute
NIMH Post-Doctoral Fellow, 1984 - 1986, Developmental Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
B.S., 1976, Psychology, St. Joseph's College, Philadelphia, PA
M.S., 1980, General Experimental Psychology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA
Ph.D., 1984, General Psychology (Developmental Psychology), University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Areas: Human Development, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations:
Research Interests:

Socioemotional development in infancy and early childhood, parenting, and intervention strategies designed to promote early development and parent-child relations.  

dmt16@psu.edu

Steven H. Zarit
Distinguished Professor and Head, Department of Human Development and Family Studies; Adjunct Professor, Gerontology Institute, University College of Health Science, Jönköping, Sweden
Ph.D., 1972, Human Development, University of Chicago
Postdoctoral Training in Clinical Psychology, 1972-1973, Department of Psychology, University of Chicago
Areas: Human Development, Contexts and Social Institutions
Center Affiliations: Center for Healthy Aging
Research Interests:

Mental health and aging, family caregiving; functioning of the oldest old; innovative models of prevention and treatment.  

z67@psu.edu

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