Bio

Courtney Stevens, PhD, is a developmental cognitive neuroscientist and a Professor of Psychology at Willamette University. She is an expert in the development and plasticity of the human brain, including the role of stress and early socioeconomic adversity on neural systems. In the course of her research, Stevens has partnered with preschool, K-12, and college programs to study factors that influence students’ academic success and emotional well-being. In one line of research, she has contributed to the development and evaluation of a program to support families with preschool children living in poverty, including adaptations for different cultural contexts. Her research has been funded by the NSF and NIH. Dr. Stevens has been recognized with national awards for excellence in teaching and neuroscience outreach. In 2015, she received the American Psychological Association’s Jane S. Halonen Teaching Excellence Award and was also named to the ’40 under 40: Professors Who Inspire’ list. The Society for Neuroscience has recognized her work in public communication, outreach, and education of neuroscience with the Next Generation Award (2012). She has presented her research nationally and internationally, to academic, policy, and community audiences. Dr. Stevens completed her undergraduate degree at Reed College and her master’s and doctorate at the University of Oregon.