Dr. Diane Hughes

Biography

Diane Hughes is a Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University Steinhardt. Her research addresses the racial and ethnic dynamics that influence individuals' experiences in various contexts such as work, classrooms, neighborhoods, and families. She specifically studies ethnic cultural differences in parental socialization goals, beliefs, and practices, with a focus on their effects on children's learning. Dr. Hughes employs community-based research methods, including interviews and surveys, to explore the challenges and supports that affect the socio-emotional development of adolescents as they transition through school. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and African American Studies from Williams College and a Ph.D. in Community Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan. Hughes has contributed her expertise as chair for the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's subgroup on Diversity in Mid-Life and has co-chaired a cross-university study group addressing race, culture, and ethnicity. Her research has been supported by prominent institutions including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, and the National Science Foundation.

Research Interests

Experience