Dr. Jennifer West, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Michigan

M.S., Towson State University

          Dr. West is currently an Assistant Professor at Bowie State University and brings 15 years of professional school based experience to the program.

        Dr. West was formerly the Psychologist for Achievement Equity for the Howard County Public School System.  In that role, she utilized a Research, Development and Demonstration model to help the school system accelerate the achievement of student populations performing furthest away from local and state achievement standards.

        Dr. West's research interests are focused on the relationship between culture, cognition and achievement, particularly among ethnic minority and economically disadvantaged students.

RESEARCH INTEREST

  • The Impact of Culture on Learning and Achievement
  • Impact of Public Montessori Schools on the Achievement of Diverse Student Groups
  • The Impact of Children’s Media on Learning and Socioemotional Development
  • Examining Issues of Skin Color, Hair Texture and Body Image in relation to young African American Girls

 

PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS
  • West, J. M., Reed, G. K., Jordan, L, & Wright, Z. (2010). Urban Schools. In (Clauss-Ehlers, Ed.) Encyclopedia of Cross Cultural School Psychology, Springer Verlag, 1019 - 1022.
  • West, J. M. (2010). The Black Intelligence Test for Cultural Homogeneity. In (Clauss-Ehlers, Ed.) Encyclopedia of Cross Cultural School Psychology, 141.
  • West, J. M. (2010). System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment, in (Clauus-Ehlers, Ed.) Encyclopedia of Cross Cultural School Psychology, 920.
  • Daniel, K., West, J.M.(2010) Master’s Level Career’s in School Psychology in the 21st century in (Lucas, A., Ed.) A Careers in Counseling, Psychology and Mental Health for Master’s Level Graduates.
  • West, J.M. & Brown, J.F.  (1999). Asset Based Education : Philosophical Foundation, Howard County Public School System.
  • West, J.M. & Brown, J.F. (1995). MASSI: A Framework for Achievement Through Diversity.  African American Research Perspectives. Program for Research on Black Americans, Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
  • West, J.M. (1994). MASSI Instructional Planning Guide. Howard County Public School System.
  • West, J.M. (1988). Facilitating a Positive Self-Identity: An Investigation of Parental Influence on Black Youths Sense of Personal Efficacy. In Algea Harrison, (Ed.), Eleventh Conference on Empirical Research in Black Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health.
  • West, J. M. (1987). Clarifying the Parental Role in Helping Black Youth Make A Successful Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The University of Michigan.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
  • American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program 7th Annual Achievement Award for Innovations in Treatment
  • Psi Chi, National Psychology Honor Society