Katherine Nelson-Coffey is an Associate Professor of Psychology in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. She also serves as Associate Director for Interdisciplinary Research and Teaching in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Director of Positive Psychology Programs. She received her doctorate in Social and Personality Psychology from the University of California, Riverside and her bachelor's degree from the University of Mary Washington. Prior to joining Arizona State University in 2022, she was an Assistant and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Sewanee: The University of the South and an Arnold Gesell Visiting Scholar in Parent and Child Development at Yale Child Study Center.
Dr. Nelson-Coffey's research examines how parents can flourish during one of life's most meaningful and demanding roles. Drawing on developmental, social, and positive psychology, she investigates the emotional and relational landscape of parenthood and the factors that help parents and families thrive. Her work seeks to better understand both the challenges and rewards of parenting, with the goal of identifying ways to support parents' well-being, relationships, and overall quality of life.
To study these questions, Dr. Nelson-Coffey employs a variety of methodological approaches, including randomized controlled interventions, longitudinal studies, daily experience methods, and analyses of nationally representative samples. Her broader research also examines how positive interpersonal behaviors, such as gratitude and kindness, contribute to well-being and strengthen relationships.
Dr. Nelson-Coffey's research has been supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and published in leading journals, including Psychological Bulletin, Psychological Science, Emotion, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and Psychoneuroendocrinology. In recognition of her contributions to the field, she was named a Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science in 2021 and received the Early Career Researcher Award from the International Positive Psychology Association in 2025. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Shape Magazine, and Pacific Standard.