EDUCATION
Ph.D. The University
of Georgia
Athens, Georgia.
M.S. The University of Buffalo
Buffalo, New
York.
B.A. York University
Toronto, Ontario. Canada
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Stephens' research examines socio cultural factors shaping racial/ ethnic minority populations’ sexual health processes, with emphasis on gender and ethnic/
racial identity development. This work is conducted through the Heath Disparities and Cultural Identities Lab. Her current research examines sexual script development's influence on sexual risk outcomes (including STI acquisition, intimate partner violence and HPV vaccination uptake), across diverse groups. Through tracking of sexual life trajectories Dr. Stephens' research goal is to identify developmental factors promoting resilience and buffering negative sexual health outcomes.
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COURSES TAUGHT
Graduate
- Applied Lifespan Development
- Current Issues in Psychology Research
- Minority Populations and Urban Health Issues
- Race, Ethnicity & Culture in Psychology
Undergraduate
- Human Sexuality
- Global Psychology
- Psychology of Adolescence
- Psychology of Health and Illness
- Psychology of Women
- Race, Gender & Sexuality in Hip Hop
For course information and sample syllabi click here
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AWARDS
Blackboard Greenhouse Exemplary Course Award
Blackboard Inc. & Blackboard Learning Systems
Carolyn Payton Early Career Award
American Psychological Association- Division 35, Section 1
FIU Online Exemplary Course Award for Instructional Development
FIU Online Department
FIU Top Scholar Recognition
Office of the Provost
Jessie Bernard Outstanding Contribution to Feminist Scholarship
National Council on Family Relations
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PUBLICATIONS
Stephens, D. P. & Fernandez, P. (2012). Ni pardo, ni prieto: The influence of parental skin color messaging on emerging adult Hispanic women’s dating beliefs. Women & Therapy: Special Issue on Latinas and Latin America, 35, 4- 18.
Stephens, D.P. & Fernandez, P. (2012). The Role of skin color on Hispanic women’s perceptions of attractiveness. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 34, 77- 94.
Stephens, D.P. (2012). The influence of mainstream Hip Hop’s female sexual scripts on African American women’s intimate relationship experiences. In M. Paludi (Ed.) The Psychology of Love. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Publishing.
Stephens, D.P. (2012). STI prevention & control for women globally: A reproductive justice approach to understanding women’s experiences. In J. Chrisler (Ed.) Reproductive Justice: A Global Concern. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger Publishing.
Stephens, D. P., & Thomas, T. L. (2011). Hispanic women’s expectations of campus- based health clinics addressing sexual health concerns. American Journal of Sexuality Education, 6, 260- 280.
Stephens, D.P., Phillips, L.D. & Few, A.L. (2009). Examining African American female adolescent sexuality within mainstream Hip Hop culture using a womanist-ecological model of human development. In S. Loyd, A.L. Few and K. Allen (Eds.) Handbook of Feminist Theory, Methods and Praxis in Family Studies (pp. 160- 174). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
Thomas, T. L., & Stephens, D. P. (2009). Young women speak: Why we seek health care and what we need from our providers. Journal of the Florida Medical Association, 108, 18- 26.
Stephens,
D. P. & Few, A. L. (2007). The effects of images of
African American women in Hip Hop on early adolescents’ attitudes
toward physical attractiveness and interpersonal relationships. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 56, 251- 264. .
Stephens, D. P. & Phillips, L. (2003). Freaks,
Gold Diggers, Divas and Dykes: The socio- historical development of
African American adolescent females’ sexual scripts. Sexuality and Culture, 7, 3- 47.
