Bethany Hoff

Bethany Hoff serves as Assistant Professor of Psychology in the School of Psychology, Family, and Community at Seattle Pacific University, where she has been teaching since 2021. Her academic journey spans Whitworth University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Educational background:

• BA, Whitworth University, 2014
• MS, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2018
• PhD, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2021

Dr. Hoff's research centers on Positive Youth Development, specifically examining how adolescents and young adults drive their development through intentional self-regulation and goal pursuit strategies. Her dissertation pioneered work on goal focus frameworks—analyzing whether individuals conceptualize goals through process-oriented or outcome-oriented lenses. Teaching responsibilities include core courses in Lifespan Developmental Psychology, Tests and Measurement, and Adolescent Development, reflecting her expertise in developmental trajectories.

Dr. Hoff actively mentors undergraduate researchers within SPU's psychology programs and contributes to the university's research ecosystem through initiatives like the Child and Adolescent Laboratory and Social Cognition Laboratory. Her office in Marston Hall 119 serves as a hub for student collaboration and scholarly discussion.