DIONNE STEPHENS

Dionne Stephens 
Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology
Education: Ph.D.

Dr. Dionne Stephens is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Florida International University (FIU); she also holds affiliated faculty status in the Women’s Studies program and Latin America & Caribbean Studies Center.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, she became a faculty member at FIU, after earning her doctorate in Human Development from The University of Georgia.Dr. Stephens’ research examines socio-historical factors shaping minority populations’ sexual scripting and sexual health processes, with emphasis on gender and ethnic/ racial identity development. Her current research study explores young adults’ and parents’ attitudes toward HPV vaccines, and cultural factors influencing intimate partner violence attitudes.

She is author of several articles on sexuality issues in racial minority communities. For her work in these areas, Dr. Stephens was awarded the Jessie Bernard Award for Outstanding Contribution to Feminist Scholarship from the National Council of Family Relations and the Carolyn Payton Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association.

Teenage Mothers in the United States: An entry from Macmillan Reference USA’s Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood: In History and Society