Kelly Smith

Kelly Smith is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at West Virginia University, where she also completed her doctoral training in Life-Span Developmental Psychology. She serves as the course supervisor for PSYC 101 and teaches undergraduate courses including Psychology 232 (Sex Roles and Behavior) and Psychology 343 (Child and Adolescent Development).

Research Interests:

Her research explores how aging and gender identities intersect to influence mental health and well-being. She investigates the role of discrimination and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these associations. Her work lies at the intersection of developmental, social, and health psychology, with a strong emphasis on identity processes across the lifespan.

Teaching and Professional Development:

• Course Supervisor, PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology
• Former teaching workshop leader, Teaching and Learning Center, WVU

Scientific Awards:

• Graduate Student Award in Teaching
• Graduate Student Award in Research

Mentorship and Collaboration:

Professor Smith is passionate about mentoring students and training future educators and developmental psychologists. She actively welcomes student involvement in her research and encourages interested individuals to contact her via email. Although no formal advisees are listed, her openness to collaboration highlights her commitment to academic mentorship.