Charisse Nixon, Ph.D.

Dr. Nixon earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from West Virginia University.

Courses Taught

• C I 295, Introductory Field Experience for Teacher Preparation
• PSU 007, First-Year Seminar Behrend
• PSY 434, Children's Social & Emotional Development
• PSYCH 100, Introductory Psychology (formerly PSY 002)
• PSYCH 212, Introduction to Developmental Psychology
• PSYCH 221, Introduction to Social Psychology (formerly PSY 217)
• PSYCH 231, Introduction to the Psychology of Gender
• PSYCH 301W, Basic Research Methods in Psychology
• PSYCH 406W, Advanced Research Projects in Psychology
• PSYCH 412, Adolescence
• PSYCH 414, Social and Personality Development
• PSYCH 490H, Senior Seminar in Psychology
• PSYCH 494, Research Projects
• PSYCH 496, Independent Studies
• PSYCH 487B, Social Psychology in Our Lives
• PSYCH 497C, Research Presentation in Psychology
• PSYCH 497K, Applied Developmental Research

Research

• Youth Voice Project: In collaboration with Stan Davis, we are looking at how students’ perceptions of peer victimization, strategy effectiveness and school connectedness contribute to perceived levels of trauma. We believe that students’ voices are an invaluable resource to increase our understanding of effective prevention and intervention efforts. The overall goal of this project is to compile a body of knowledge describing the most helpful interventions in order to help adults and youth reduce bullying and harassment in their own schools. It is our hope to use this information to guide educators, parents, and youth in applying effective interventions to reduce bullying and subsequently, optimize students’ development.
• The empirical study of Protective and Risk Factors: Our lab continues to investigate various protective and risk factors as they relate to students’ developmental outcomes across gender and grade level.
• Mentoring in the Schools: How does college mentoring affect students’ development in middle and high school? Are there different effects for at-risk and not at-risk children and youth? Gender effects? Grade level effects? Which individual components of a mentoring program produce the greatest effects? This is a collaborative effort between local schools, colleges and community organizations. College students have been involved at every level of this process. ​