Stephanie Irby Coard

Bio & Education

Dr. Stephanie Irby Coard is currently a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and former Director of Graduate Studies at The University of North Carolina – Greensboro (UNC-G). She has previously held faculty appointments at Duke University and New York University School of Medicine, Child Study Center. She earned a B.A. from North Carolina State University in both Psychology and Business Management; an M.S. Ed. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania; and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University. She completed a Pediatric Clinical Pre-Doctoral Internship in the Division of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics, at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Dr. Coard’s research examines racial, ethnic, and cultural influences on youth development and family functioning and the development and implementation of culturally relevant evidence-based practices targeting African-American families and communities. Her clinical training and understanding of socio-cultural factors, as they relate to the etiology, treatment, and prevention of child mental health problems, has informed her work on a number of locally and federally funded studies to pursue research in the development of culturally relevant strategies to assist African American parents to prevent and manage common behavior problems among youth. This research has resulted in the development of an observational measure of racial socialization and a parenting curriculum and written materials.

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is designed to empower students through knowledge, illustrate the need for diversity in social settings, create agents of social change, and accommodate different learning styles. My goal in teaching is to foster the acquisition of a base of concepts and learning skills to facilitate further learning and thinking. In all my courses, I guide students in the evaluation of evidence, critical thinking, argument development, verbal and written expression, and the application of general principles to novel settings. My courses are all structured around three common themes: an emphasis on research, the development of writing skills, and the generation of enthusiasm for scientific inquiry and application.

Courses Taught

UNDERGRADUATE

GRADUATE

Research

My research mission is to contribute to the understanding, prevention, and treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems, particularly as they relate to youth and families of color. This includes remaining at the forefront of research in prevention and comprehensive treatments for youth in order to facilitate awareness of the importance of examining and understanding the role of culture and related concepts, such as ethnicity and race. These factors contribute to the complexities of developmental and psychological processes and are of vital importance to the understanding of culturally diverse populations. My work integrates existing knowledge on culture, ethnicity, and race with intervention efforts aimed at treating and preventing child mental health problems. As these evidenced‐based interventions are applied to children within communities of color, the understanding of culture and how specific culture‐related factors influence implementation and acceptance become paramount. With this mission at the forefront, my primary research focus centers on the influence of racial, ethnic, and cultural factors on child and family mental health and well‐being. This research focus consists of two modes of inquiry: applied and theoretical.

The applied portion of my research focuses on the development and testing of strength-based, culturally relevant, and contextually‐focused preventive interventions that target youth and families of color and the multiple environments in which they operate. These interventions are parent and family-directed for the prevention and management of common youth behavior problems. The theoretical portion of my research focuses on the study of race‐related developmental and familial processes (e.g., color consciousness, and racial socialization) and their influence on the psychological well‐being and functioning of youth and families of color

African American Family Strengths & Strategies Lab

Read about my African American Family Strengths and Strategies (AAFSS) Research Lab