معرفی
Esther Burson is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Smith College, specializing in applied developmental psychology with a focus on intersectionality, critical consciousness, and social inequality. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology from New York University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University’s Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research. Her research explores how adolescents perceive social, political, and economic inequities and how these perceptions influence well-being and intergroup relations among marginalized youth.
Dr. Burson’s academic journey includes a postdoctoral role where she led a research-practice partnership with a national youth service organization to study the impact of national service on community engagement. She teaches courses on adolescent development, research methods, and youth understandings of social change. Her research has been supported by grants from NYU and Steinhardt, and she has received multiple awards for her work, including the Han Zhang Dissertation Award and the Chein-Lehmann Professional Development Award.
Key research interests include LGBTQ youth, structural inequality, and the role of arts and education in fostering critical consciousness. She collaborates with non-profits like City Year to translate research into impactful programs. Dr. Burson’s work is published in journals such as Developmental Psychology, Child Development, and European Journal of Social Psychology.
Her awards and honors reflect recognition for her contributions to developmental psychology and applied research, including fellowships from NYU Steinhardt and the Society for Research on Adolescence. She actively mentors students and serves on academic committees focusing on diversity and curriculum development.
