Leslie K. Grier

Education: Ph.D. Developmental Psychology, Wayne State University

Areas of Expertise: Program evaluation and youth development, at-risk and underrepresented populations, and academic achievement.

Dr. Leslie Grier earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Wayne State University. Her dissertation involved designing, implementing, and evaluating a program to enhance the moral reasoning and efficacy of elementary school students. Her research has focused on cultural contexts of development, specializing in African American children and moral and identity development. Her most recent research is on peer influence in adolescence. She is also Practicum Director for the department. Dr. Grier participates in community service activities that involve after/out-of-school time.

She is an endorsed trainer for the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC) and serves as CalSAC’s trainer mentor for Region 10. In addition, she is co-chair of CalSAC’s Equity Task Force and serves on the Research and Middle and High School Youth Programs committees for the California After-school Network (CAN). She has also served as an evaluator for various out-of-school and after-school programs. Dr. Grier has broad teaching interests that include the development of school-age children and adolescents, as well as practicum and optimizing development in children and youth.