09/03/2026
Please welcome Dr. Meriah DeJoseph to our faculty this year!
Dr. DeJoseph is an Assistant Professor in the Developmental area of the Psychology Department.
Here's a bit about her 😊
1. Who are you? (where are you from, what you like to do in your free time, any fun facts)
Originally from San Diego, I recently moved to Denver from San Francisco with my husband, 2-year-old daughter, and our dog, Banana. Outside of work, I love treasure hunting at Denver’s many thrift shops, exploring new neighborhoods, and getting outdoors with my family.
2. What area of psychology do you research, and why are you passionate about it?
I study how children adapt to the environments they grow up in, particularly in the context of poverty. How do experiences like economic unpredictability shape the ways children learn and regulate themselves? When might ways of responding that are helpful in one environment create challenges in another? And how do these adaptations unfold and change as children grow? My own experience growing up below the poverty line motivates me to understand not only where children struggle, but also how they develop strengths that make sense in their everyday lives.
3. What are you most excited to achieve during your time here at DU?
I’m especially excited to launch the SAGE (Self-Regulation, Adaptation, & Growing Experiences) Lab and build a fun, collaborative research team with DU students. Together, I hope we can build lasting relationships with families and community partners around Denver. I’m excited to learn from the people I work with and let that learning guide us toward better questions and research that feels meaningful and useful to families.
