Meet the Director | Penn State College of Health and Human Development

Cynthia Stifter, Professor of Human Development and Psychology

Ph.D., 1987, Human Development, University of Maryland

Cynthia (Cindy) Stifter is Professor of Human Development and Psychology. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of Maryland. She also has a MSW degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Community Planning in Baltimore. Dr. Stifter has served on several federal panels and editorial boards. Most recently she served as Associate Editor of the journal of Child Development. When Dr. Stifter is not busy doing research with children you can usually catch her outdoors, running, biking, kayaking or hiking.

Research Interests

Socio-emotional development in early childhood, specifically how temperament, its physiological bases, and the parenting environment each and together contributes to the development of mental and physical health. Current projects include a study on childhood obesity and a study on how children’s positive affect influences other areas of development including emotion regulation and curiosity.

Teaching Interests

Infant and child development; socio-emotional development; temperament; the development of regulatory processes

Contact Information

308 HHD-East Building
814-863-7963
tvr@psu.edu
Cynthia Stifter faculty web page

Cindy, showing an interest in child development at a young age!