معرفی
Sara Johnson serves as Associate Professor in both the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development within Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences and at Tisch College. Her academic appointments include the Evans Family Professorship (2020-2023) and progression from Research Assistant Professor (2013-2015) to Assistant Professor (2016-2023) before achieving her current Associate Professor position.
- PhD in Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut (2012)
- MA in Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut (2008)
- BS in Family and Community Services, Michigan State University (2006)
Johnson's research centers on adolescent and young adult development through two foundational premises: individuals actively contribute to their own development and societal functioning, and contemporary Western societies maintain persistent inequalities based on systems like racism and sexism. Her work specifically examines how young people engage in justice-oriented contribution behaviors that promote equity, investigating the roles of identity development, civic knowledge, and life experiences in facilitating these processes. She pays particular attention to how these dynamics differ for youth benefiting from systems of power and privilege.
Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent focus on identity development, critical consciousness, and civic engagement using advanced quantitative methods. Her work increasingly incorporates critical race perspectives and examines racial identity development among both marginalized and privileged youth groups. The research demonstrates methodological sophistication through longitudinal designs, mixture modeling, and mixed-methods approaches.
Johnson leads the Development of Identity and Community Engagement (DICE) Lab and has secured multiple research grants from the John Templeton Foundation for projects including 'Modeling pathways of character development across the first three decades of life' and 'Evaluating the Positive Coaching Alliance Model.' Her professional activities include extensive conference presentations at major developmental science venues and editorial work for journals including Child Development and Applied Developmental Science.
As an educator, Johnson teaches advanced quantitative methods courses including Structural Equation Modeling and Applied Regression Analysis, while mentoring doctoral students through dissertation committees and directing research projects. Her teaching portfolio spans undergraduate honors theses to doctoral-level seminars, reflecting her dual commitment to methodological training and content expertise in developmental science.
