College of Arts and Sciences | Majors and Minors | Psychology Department | Faculty | Tara Stoppa, PhD

Tara Stoppa, PhD

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Tara Stoppa is an Assistant Professor and Co-Chair of the Psychology Department at Eastern University. Dr. Stoppa teaches courses that focus on human development, personality, and family issues. Dr. Stoppa’s research interests relate to the study of identity formation during adolescence and the transition to adulthood, focusing upon the processes underscoring identity development and the emergence of an adult sense of self and self-in-relation to society. In addition, this work also fundamentally entails a consideration of both individual and social-level factors (including the contexts of family, peers, community and institutions) that may either serve to promote or constrain adaptive development in this area -- ultimately, with an eye toward intervention. Dr. Stoppa eagerly invites students who are interested in learning more about the research process to consider becoming involved with her on-going program of research in these areas.

CONTACT INFORMATION

PHONE: 610-341-5871 
FAX: 610-341-1460 
EMAIL: tstoppa@eastern.edu

EDUCATION

Ph.D, Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Clinical Psychology, Millersville University
B.A., Psychology/English, Moravian College

PUBLICATIONS

Stoppa, T.M., Wray-Lake, L., Syvertsen, A. K., & Flanagan. C. A. (2011). Defining a moment in history: Parental communication with adolescents about September 11^th, 2001. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 1691-1704. doi:10.1007/s10964-011-9676-0
Flanagan, C. A., Stoppa, T. M., Syvertsen. A. K., & Stout, M. (2010). Schools and social trust. In L. Sherrod, J. Torney-Purta, & C. A. Flanagan (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Civic Engagement in Youth. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Stoppa, T. M., & Lefkowitz, E. S. (2010). Longitudinal changes in religiosity among emerging adult college students. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 20, 23-38. doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2009.00630.x
Lefkowitz, E. S. & Stoppa, T. M. (2006). Positive sexual communication and socialization in the parent-adolescent context. In L. Diamond (Ed.), New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 112, Rethinking positive adolescent female development (pp. 39-56). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.