Carlisa B. Simon, Ph.D.

Dr. Carlisa Simon is an Assistant Professor of Psychological Science at Kennesaw State University, where she studies how culture, identity, and resilience shape the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults. Trained in Human Development and Psychology at UCLA, her work focuses on racial socialization — the messages youth receive from parents, peers, and communities about race — and how these messages influence stress, coping, and healthy development. She uses innovative methods, from animated video vignettes to physiological measures, to capture how young people interpret and respond to their social worlds.

At the heart of her research is a deep commitment to amplifying the voices and experiences of marginalized youth and families, and to translating developmental science into real-world impact for schools, programs, and policies. When she’s not writing or mentoring students, Dr. Simon is probably listening to a podcast, testing out a new recipe, or holding on to dear life in a hot yoga class.