Biography

I am an Assistant Professor in the Behavioral Science department. I received my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Rochester and my undergraduate degree from Utah Valley University. What can I say, once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine!

I teach courses on Infant and Child Development, Adolescent Development, Lifespan Development, Social and Emotional Development, and Positive Psychology.
Before joining UVU, I was a visiting scholar with the Performance Science Institute at the University of Southern California and a postdoctoral scholar at Baylor University. My program of research is grounded in the positive youth development (PYD) approach, which posits that optimal development is marked by growth in attributes of caring, competence, confidence, connection, and character, and that contribution to community and society is a key outgrowth of these attributes. Within this framework, my research focuses on 1) documenting developmental change in character strengths, 2) identifying experiences in contexts such as families, schools, and communities that foster growth in youth character, and 3) examining developmental patterns of contribution through civic engagement. By investigating the development of character strengths and civic engagement, my research has both theoretical and applied implications for optimizing positive development among youth.
If you are interested in joining my research team, please email me at [email protected] for more information.

FEATURED PUBLICATIONS:
Shubert, J., Wray?Lake, L., & McKay, B. (2020). Looking Ahead and Working Hard: How School Experiences Foster Adolescents’ Future Orientation and Perseverance. Journal of Research on Adolescence.

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