معرفی
Esther S. Chang is a Professor of Psychology at Soka University of America, serving as Director of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Concentration. She joined SUA in 2007 after earning her PhD in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on lifespan developmental psychology, particularly mother-daughter relationships, body image development, and cross-cultural psychology. She has mentored numerous students, including capstone researchers like Jianmin Shao, Chhusang, and Lucero.
Education:
- Oberlin College, B.A. Politics and International Policy Analysis (1995)
- Columbia University, M.A. General Psychology (2000)
- University of California-Irvine, Ph.D. Psychology and Social Behavior (2007)
Research interests include occupational goals post-pandemic, political participation, and shared agency in education. She has received awards like the 2019 SUA Faculty Merit Award and multiple fellowships during her academic career. Her work spans publications in journals like Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology and Journal of Eating Disorders.
Advising and grants: She has guided over 20 students through capstone projects and research initiatives, often collaborating with institutions like the Western Psychological Association. Her mentorship emphasizes fostering generativity and agency in students, particularly in foster youth education and cross-cultural contexts.
Labs/Teams: Collaborates with researchers like Gary Germo (CASA mentoring scale) and Yuying Tsong (parental involvement in weight management). Active in presenting at conferences such as the Association for Psychological Science and Western Psychological Association.
