Stephanie Furrer

Dr. Stephanie Furrer is a Professor of Psychology at Hastings College, where she leads research in developmental and cognitive sciences. She specializes in infant categorization, early childhood development, and the impact of nutrition and nature on children's well-being. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, as seen in her J-Term courses combining psychology with topics like gender studies, language acquisition, and environmental influences on development.

Education:

• B.A. and M.A., San Jose State University
• M.S. and Ph.D., Purdue University

Research & Teaching: Dr. Furrer directs the Developmental and Cognitive Research Laboratory, focusing on school-aged children's nutrition, cognitive development, and the benefits of outdoor experiences. She teaches courses including Developmental Psychology, Early Childhood Development, and Psychology of Aging. Her research often involves undergraduate assistants, fostering hands-on learning opportunities.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Developmental and Cognitive Research Laboratory, collaborating across disciplines (e.g., with Religion and Philosophy, English departments) to explore themes like nature’s role in child development and gender representation in literature.