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 violence and HPV vaccination uptake), across diverse groups. Through tracking of sexual life trajectories, Dr. Stephens' goal is to identify developmental factors promoting resilience and buffering negative sexual health outcomes.

For course information and sample syllabi click here

SELECT 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

Interventions for High-Risk Sexual Behavior Training Institute
Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction- University of Indiana.

        

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

Stephens, D. P., Fernandez, P. & Richman, E. (In press). 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.

Stephens, D.P. & Fernandez, P. (In press). The Role of skin color on Hispanic women’s perceptions of attractiveness.  Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences.

Stephens, D.P., Patil, V., & Thomas, T. L. (In press). 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. [Joint project of APA Division 52's International Committee for Women and APA Division 35's Global Issues Committee.]

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.

Thomas, T. & Stephens D. P. (2010). Hip Hop, Health and HPV: Using Wireless Technology to Increase Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Uptake. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 6, 6, 464- 470.

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. (2007). Hip Hop Honeys or Video Hos: African American preadolescents' understandings of popular culture-based female sexual scripts. Sexuality and Culture, 11, 4, 48- 69.

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.

Phillips, L., Reddik- Morgan, K. & Stephens, D. P. (2005). Oppositional Conciousness within an Oppositional Realm: The case of feminism and womanism in rap and Hip Hop, 1976- 2004. Journal of African American History, Special Issue- Hip Hop History: Past, Present and Future, 90, 3, 19- 32.

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.