Samantha Brown, assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University, is bringing her expertise in child and family trauma as she continues her CSU career in Human Development and Family Studies after starting at CSU in the School of Social Work in 2018.
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am originally from Washington state. For my bachelor’s degree, I studied at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. I moved to Colorado to pursue my master’s in forensic psychology and a Ph.D. in social work at the University of Denver. I also completed my postdoctoral training in developmental psychobiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Outside of academia, I enjoy spending time running, hiking, and spending time with my 7-month-old, partner, and dog.
What brought you to the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at CSU?
I started at CSU in 2018, so I’ve been very fortunate to work with faculty, staff, and students in the HDFS department, and I am aware of their excellent reputation with respect to research, teaching, and community engagement. I was drawn to the HDFS department because I could bring my interdisciplinary expertise in child and family trauma and partner with folks engaging in risk and resilience and prevention science-related scholarship. I was also excited for the opportunity to teach courses in areas that intersect with my research interests, such as infant and child development.
What are your research and/or teaching interests, and how did you get interested in that topic?
My overarching research focuses on examining the risk and protective pathways through which early life adversity shapes child and family health and development and translating this knowledge into the development of health-promotive interventions. Through my prior clinical work and training, I recognized how child- and family-serving systems play a critical role in affecting the outcomes of adversity-exposed children and families, which propelled me to ask questions about how practices and programs could be enhanced to foster health and wellness for populations living in high-risk environments.
I hope to contribute to the success of the HDFS department, engage in interdisciplinary and collaborative research to address important child and family issues, and mentor the next generation of students passionate about developmental science.
What is your teaching philosophy?
The core values of my teaching include creating a supportive classroom environment with a growth-mindset, recognizing student diversity, promoting intellectual quality, and bringing “real life” relevance to the classroom. I am mindful of the variability in student learning and that students bring their own experiences into the classroom. Therefore, I also believe it is important to integrate a developmental perspective in the classroom to assess the needs and interests of students as well as to promote active engagement with course material through the application of diverse learning activities.
What is your favorite thing about CSU?
Everything. 😊
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
