CURRICULUM VITAE
Alyssa D. McElwain, M.S.
(317) 440-3461
Email : alyssamcelwain@gmail.com
Website : http://alyssamcelwain.weebly.com/
I. EDUCATION
Institution
Dates
Degree
Major
Auburn University
2015 (expected) Ph.D.
Human Development and Family Studies
Graduate Certificate in University Teaching
Purdue University
(Calumet campus)
2006-2008
M.S.
Family Studies and Child Development
Minor: Marriage and Family Therapy
Kansas State University
2002-2006
B.A.
Psychology
Minor: Spanish
II. HONORS AND AWARDS
2014-2015
Jeanne M. Priester Doctoral Fellowship
2014-2015
Merriwether Fellowship
2014
Nominated for the Graduate Student Woman of Distinction Award
2014
1st Place Social Sciences oral presentation, AU Graduate Scholars Forum
2014
Student Poster Award, Society for Research on Adolescence
2013
Joyce & Roger Lethander Scholarship
2006
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
2006
Phi Beta Kappa, Kansas State University
2004-2006
Fairchild Terrace Academic Scholarship, Kansas State University
2002-2006
Dean’s List, Kansas State University
III. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2011- Research Coordinator, Young Women Leaders Program (YWLP)
2013 In coordination with Dr. Danilea Werner and Dr. Donna Sollie, I was responsible for conducting annual
evaluations of the effect of the YWLP on program participants (i.e., junior high school girls and
undergraduate women) which included collecting pre- and post-test measurements, grade and behavioral
reports, and focus group data. I assisted in data entry, cleaning, and analyses for basic research questions
pertaining to the effectiveness of the program.
2011
Graduate Research Assistant. Supporting Alabama Adolescent Sexual Health (SAASH) project.
Worked with Dr. Jennifer Kerpelman in collaboration with the Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy and the Alabama Department of Public Health. I compiled information about adolescent sexual
health statistics, state policies, and prevention initiatives from multiple states in the region to help inform
policymakers and sexual health advocates in Alabama.
2008
Master’s Thesis. “The influence of differentiation of self, sexual knowledge, and sexual selfdisclosure on relationship and sexual satisfaction in heterosexual couples” Advisor: David P. Nalbone.
Purdue University. Examined the influence of several individual characteristics on sexual and
relationship satisfaction in couples through the use of structural equation modeling. I assembled and
distributed a survey, conducted demographic and descriptive analyses, and interpreted the results of a
structural equation model.
2005- Research Assistant. Department of Psychology, Kansas State University, Donald A. Saucier.
2006 Examined racial attitudes through use of the Implicit Association Task, created measures to examine the
convergent and discriminant validity of implicit and explicit measures of racial attitudes, entered data,
and conducted demographic and descriptive analyses.
IV. PUBLICATIONS
A. Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
McElwain, A., & Bub, K. (under review). Changes in mother and father-child relationship quality across
the transition to adolescence: Implications for early engagement in sexual behavior. Journal of Research
on Adolescence.
McElwain, A., Kerpelman, J., & Pittman, J. (under review). The role of romantic attachment security and
dating identity exploration in understanding adolescents’ sexual attitudes and cumulative sexual risktaking. Journal of Adolescence.
Kerpelman, J., McElwain, A., Pittman, J. & Adler-Baeder, F., (2013). Engagement in risky sexual
behavior: Adolescents’ perceptions of self and the parent-child relationship matter. Youth and Society,
(published online first March 2013). DOI: 10.1177/0044118X13479614
http://yas.sagepub.com.spot.lib.auburn.edu/content/early/2013/03/03/0044118X13479614.full.pdf+html
McElwain, A., Grimes, M., & McVicker, M. (2009). The implications of erotic plasticity and social
constructionism in the formation of female sexual identity. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 21, 125-139.
Grimes, M. & McElwain, A. (2008). Marriage and family therapy with low-income clients: Professional,
ethical, and clinical issues. Contemporary Family Therapy, 30, 220-232.
B. Book Chapters
Kerpelman, J.L., McElwain, A.D., & Saint-Eloi-Cadely, H. (in press). Adolescent Development and
Romantic Relationships. In J. Arditti (Ed.), Family problems: Stress, risk, and resilience.
C. Outreach Publications
McElwain, A. (2013). Young Women Leaders Program Annual Program Report. Auburn University
Women’s Initiatives.
McElwain, A. (2011). Website content for the Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy. “What is
positive youth development and how can it be an effective approach to preventing teenage and unplanned
pregnancy?” Positive Youth Development (PYD) link on http://acptp.org.
V. PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
McElwain, A., Bub, K. (2014, November). Adolescent relationships and sexual outcomes. Presentation at
annual conference of the National Council on Family Relations. Baltimore, MD.
McElwain, A., Kerpelman, J., Pittman, J., (2014, July). The role of romantic attachment security and dating
identity exploration in understanding adolescents’ sexual attitudes and cumulative sexual risk-taking.
Presented to the International Association for Relationship Research conference in Melbourne,
Australia.
McElwain, A. (2014, April). “Know more: Healthy relationships”. Workshop delivered at the Auburn
University Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Auburn, AL.
McElwain, A., & Bub, K. (2014, March). Changes in the parent-child relationship across the transition to
adolescence: Implications for early adolescent sexual behavior. Poster presentation at the biennial Society
for Research on Adolescence meeting in Austin, TX. (Winner of the SRA Student Poster Award.)
McElwain, A., Kerpelman, J., Pittman, J., & Adler-Baeder, F. (2013, November). Predictors of healthy sexual
attitudes and behaviors in adolescence: Does gender matter? Presentation at the 2013 annual meeting of
the National Council on Family Relations. San Antonio, TX.
McElwain, A. (2013, March). The role of romantic attachment security and dating identity exploration in
adolescent risky sexual behavior: What role do sexual attitudes have? Poster presentation at the annual
Quint State Southeastern Symposium on Human Development and Family Studies. Auburn, AL.
McElwain, A. (2013, February). A Family Impact Analysis of sexual health education policy in Alabama.
Presentation at the annual meeting of the Southeast Council on Family Relations. Birmingham, AL.
McElwain, A., Kerpelman, J., Adler-Baeder, F., & Pittman, J. (2012, November). Predictors of healthy sexual
attitudes and behaviors in adolescence. Presentation at the 2012 annual meeting of the National Council
on Family Relations. Phoenix, AZ.
McElwain, A., & May, C. (2012, May). The importance of incorporating relationship education with sexual
health education for adolescents. Presentation at the Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
annual teen pregnancy prevention conference. Birmingham, AL.
McElwain, A., Jackson, A., Datubo-Brown, C., & McGill, J. (2012, February). The Young Women Leader’s
Program: “Young women get real about relationships”. Workshop delivered at the Auburn University
Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Auburn, AL.
McElwain, A., Kerpelman, J., Latham, B., Adler-Baeder, F., & Pittman, J. (2011, November). Adolescents’
Engagement in Risky Sexual Behaviors: Parenting Matters. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the
National Council on Family Relations. Orlando, FL.
Kerpelman, J. , Pittman, J. , Saint –Eloi Cadely, H. Tuggle, F., Harrell-Levy, M., Adler-Baeder, F., Ma, Y., May,
C., & McElwain, A. (2011, November). The Interplay of Identity and Romantic Attachment during
Adolescence. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Family Relations.
Orlando, FL.
VI. TEACHING EXPERIENCE
A. Auburn University—Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Courses Taught:
Summer 2014
Summer 2012
Summer 2011
Graduate Teaching Assistant:
Spring 2011
Fall 2010
HDFS 3030: Adolescent & Adult Development in the Family
HDFS 3040: Human Sexuality over the Family Life Cycle
HDFS 3040: Human Sexuality over the Family Life Cycle
HDFS 3040: Human Sexuality over the Family Life Cycle
HDFS 2000: Marriage and Family in a Global Context
HDFS 4500: Hospitalized Children
HDFS 3040: Human Sexuality over the Family Life Cycle
HDFS 2030: Professional Development and Ethics
Guest Lecture Experience:
Sasnett Residence Hall, Auburn University
11/8/2011
Guest speaker at a sexual health workshop
HDFS 4950: Issues Facing Adolescent Girls
10/29/2012
Introduction to Adolescent Development
10/25/2011
Female adolescent sexual development
HDFS 2000 Marriage and Family in a Global Context
4/9/2012
Sexual Health
HDFS 2030: Professional Development and Ethics
1/28/2011
Time management skills for students and new professionals
HDFS 3040: Human Sexuality over the Family Life Cycle
10/25/2011
Sexual Health
3/28/2011
Sexual Education
2/2/2011
Male sexual function and sexual health
1/31/2011
Male sexual anatomy
1/28/2011
Female sexual health across the lifespan
1/26/2011
Female sexual anatomy
1/19/2011
Sexual scripts
9/27/2010
Communication in intimate relationships
HDFS 2000: Marriage and Family in a Global Context
9/29/2010
Love and intimacy in adult relationships
B. Purdue University, Calumet campus—Department of Behavioral Sciences
Courses Taught:
Fall 2006-Fall 2008
PSYCH 120 Introductory Psychology
C. Kansas State University
1. Department of Psychological Sciences
Undergraduate Teaching Apprentice
Fall 2005
PSYCH 110 General Psychology
2. Educational Support Services
Peer Tutor
2005-2006
All levels of Spanish and Psychology
3. KSU International Community Service Program (Tampico, Mexico)
Instructor and Program Facilitator
Summer 2005
English and basic computer skills
VII. OUTREACH AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
2013- Service Learning Coordinator. Alabama Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Initiative
Present (AHMREI), Auburn, AL.
As part of the AHMREI project, I coordinate the undergraduate service learning course in which
students teach relationship education to high school students in the community. I train undergraduate
students to follow a relationship education curriculum and I conduct evaluations of student facilitators. I
coordinate with teachers and community organizations to implement relationship education events.
2011- Program Facilitator. Young Women Leaders Program (YWLP), Auburn, AL.
2013 The YWLP is a curriculum-based after school mentoring program that pairs female Auburn University
students with eighth or ninth grade girls in Auburn, Alabama. I led orientations, developed the
undergraduate course that corresponds with the program, developed and implemented the program
curriculum, and led weekly meetings with the mentors and mentees. I was also responsible for program
evaluation and helped develop the evaluation instruments (pre- and post-tests) and overall research plan. I
was also involved in writing two grants to fund the YWLP.
2011- Technical Assistant. Personal Responsibility and Education Program (PREP), Montgomery, AL.
2012 APREP is a federally funded program of the Department of Health and Human Services that
provides funding to three community-based projects to educate adolescents ages 15 to 19 years on both
abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). I provided
technical assistance to the APREP subgrantees. I facilitated trainings for APREP educators, assembled
and distributed teaching resources, monitored classroom sessions, and collected evaluation materials.
2008
Therapist Intern. The Success Center. Lansing, IL.
Met weekly with individual, couple, and family clients and maintained client case notes and clinic
paperwork. Received weekly individual and group supervision.
2007
Therapist Intern. Purdue Couple and Family Therapy Center. Hammond, Indiana
Met weekly with individual, couple, and family clients and maintained client case notes and clinic
paperwork. Led anger management and substance abuse group therapy sessions and received weekly
individual and group supervision.
VIII. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (Past 2 years at Auburn University):
A. Conference and Seminar Attendance:
Society for Research on Adolescence Biennial Conference
Quint State Southeastern Symposium on Child and Family Development
Auburn University Outreach Symposium
National Council on Family Relations National Conference
Auburn University Research Week
Auburn University Women’s Leadership Conference
3/19/2014
2/28/2014
2/10/2014
11/6/2013
4/14/2013
4/5/2013
Quint State Southeastern Symposium on Child and Family Development
Southeastern Council on Family Relations Conference
Biggio Center workshop: “Via Response: clicker technology in the classroom”
National Council on Family Relations National Conference
Biggio Center workshop: “Distance Education: How to Put a Class Online”
Biggio Center workshop: “Effective Evaluation of Teaching”
Alabama Department of Public Health Professional Development Workshop
Alabama Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Conference
Auburn University Women’s Leadership Conference
3/1/2013
2/21/2013
11/14/2012
11/1/2012
10/16/2012
10/8/2012
7/26/2012
5/1/2012
2/24/2012
B. Professional Activities
 Assisted in planning Auburn University Research Week
 Coordinated training of undergraduate students in Relationship Smarts Plus curriculum.
 Conducted an evaluation and wrote an annual report for the Young Women Leaders Program.
 Organized the annual Quint State Symposium on Human Development and Family Studies hosted at
Auburn University in February, 2013.
 Co-authored a grant proposal applying for $7,000 for Young Women Leaders Program operating costs
from the American Association of University Women.
 Participated as a 2012-2013 graduate fellow for the Biggio Center’s Preparing Future Faculty program.
 Wrote and distributed biannual newsletters for the 2012-2013 Young Women Leaders Program.
 Serve as a graduate student program facilitator for the Young Women Leaders Program.
 Provide technical assistance for the youth component of the AHMREI relationship education project.
 Facilitated an orientation for incoming graduate students in the HDFS department.
 Conducted orientation and training activities for the mentors of the Young Women Leaders Program.
 Revised the program evaluation and research plan for the Young Women Leaders Program.
 Served as a judge during poster presentation session for Auburn University Research Week.
 Recruited Big and Little Sisters for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 program years of the Young Women
Leaders Program.
IX. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Southeastern Council on Family Relations
Society for Research on Adolescence
National Council on Family Relations
HDFS Graduate Student Organization
Phi Beta Kappa: Beta of Kansas Chapter
American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
Indiana Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
2014-present
2013-present
2010-present
2010-present
2006-present
2007-2009
2006-2009
X. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND ACTIVITIES
Spring 2014
Spring 2014
Spring 2012
Reviewer for conference proposals for the National Council on Family Relations
Reviewer for Journal of Marriage and Family manuscript
Reviewer for conference proposals for the National Council on Family Relations
XI. DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE AND ACTIVITIES
Fall 2013-Spring 2014 Quint State Representative for the HDFS Graduate Student Organization
Spring 2013
Facilitated the HDFS Spring Graduate Student Teaching Forum
Fall 2012-Fall 2013
President of the HDFS Graduate Student Organization
Fall 2011-Spring 2013 Mentor for the HDFS Undergraduate Mentoring Program
Fall 2011-Fall 2012
Vice President of the HDFS Graduate Student Organization
Summer 2011
Assisted with data collection from HDFS undergraduate alumni