EDUCATION

Ph.D. The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia.

M.A. The University of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York.

B.A. York University
Toronto, Ontario. Canada

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Dr. Stephens' research examines socio- historical factors shaping 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 the sexual script development's influence on sexual risk outcomes (including STI acquisition, intimate violence and HPV vaccination uptake), across racial/ ethnic 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

The Carolyn Payton Early Career Award
American Psychological Association- Division 35, Section 1

Blackboard Greenhouse Exemplary Course Award
Blackboard Inc. & Blackboard Learning System

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., 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.

Few, A. L. & Stephens, D. P. ( 2009). African American adolescent female sexuality: Creating change using a womanist- ecological lens (pp. 75- 94).  In K. Roberto & J. Mancini (Ed.) Pathways of Development: Explorations of Change. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

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.

Stephens, D.P. & Phillips, L. (2005). Integrating Black feminist thought into conceptual frameworks of African American adolescent women’s sexual scripting processes. Sexualities, Evolution and Gender 7, 1, 37- 55.

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.

Rouse- Arnett, M.T., Long Dilworth J.E.. & Stephens, D. P. (2005). The Influence of social institutes on African American women's sexual values and attitudes. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy , 17, 2, 1-15.

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.