Prof. Dr. Sandra Simpkins

Sandra Simpkins, Ph.D. in developmental psychology, is a Professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Education. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science. Prof. Simpkins is the Director for the UCI  Center for Afterschool and Summer Excellence. Her research addresses positive youth developmental processes, the influence of families and organized activities on youth development, and how these processes vary by social position factors (such as, ethnicity and gender). Her current projects focus on how youth’s organized after-school activities support their positive adjustment into adulthood and how families help support adolescents’ STEM motivation, activities, and choices.