Abbie Goldberg

Abbie Goldberg is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University, where she also serves as the Director of Women's & Gender Studies and the Director of Clinical Training. She holds the Jan and Larry Landry Endowed Chair and has been at Clark since 2005.

Dr. Goldberg received her education from:

• B.A. in Psychology from Wesleyan University (1999)
• M.S. in Psychology from University of Massachusetts (2001)
• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of Massachusetts (2005)

Dr. Goldberg is an internationally recognized scholar whose research examines diverse families, including LGBTQ-parent families and adoptive-parent families, as well as the experiences of marginalized groups such as trans youth. Her work focuses on how social locations (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, social class) and contexts (e.g., work, family, community) shape processes of development and mental health. She has conducted a longitudinal study of adoptive parenthood among lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples for over a decade and is currently researching transgender students' experiences in higher education. Her research has important implications for clinical practice, education, and policy.

Dr. Goldberg's recent publications reveal a strong focus on minority stress in LGBTQ+ families, the impact of anti-LGBTQ legislation, parenting practices in diverse family structures, and the experiences of transgender individuals in educational settings. Her work demonstrates consistent attention to intersectionality, examining how multiple aspects of identity interact to shape experiences.

Her notable awards include:

• Research Communications Grant from Spencer Foundation (2021-2022)

Dr. Goldberg has secured significant research funding from prestigious organizations including the American Psychological Association, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Williams Institute, and the National Institutes of Health. She mentors both graduate and undergraduate students through her research lab, providing opportunities to engage with cutting-edge research on family diversity and LGBTQ+ issues.

She directs the Transition to Adoptive Parenthood Project (TAPP) and conducts research on transgender and gender-nonconforming students in higher education, as well as postpartum mental health among sexual minority women. Her lab provides a collaborative environment for students to develop research skills while contributing to meaningful scholarship in psychology.