Melissa-Sue John

Melissa-Sue John, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), where she joined in 2022. Her research focuses on intergroup behavior, diversity in STEM education, and children’s literature representation. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, with prior roles as a lecturer at multiple institutions and a Research Associate at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Dr. John’s work includes developing the Seeds of STEM curriculum to teach preschoolers engineering concepts and participating in the Many Labs 2 replication initiative. She co-founded Lauren Simone Publishing House to promote diverse voices in children’s literature, highlighted in the Fall 2024 Outlook magazine.

Her teaching spans courses like Introduction to Psychology and Social Psychology. She is affiliated with organizations such as the American Psychological Association and Children’s Book Council. Her research emphasizes reducing bias, enhancing STEM accessibility, and fostering inclusive narratives in education and publishing.