Dr. Stella Kanchewa (email) is an assistant professor of psychology. She completed her B.A. in psychology (with a minor in sociology) at the University at Buffalo, her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and her pre-doctoral internship at the Albany Psychology Internship Consortium. She has also completed postdoctoral training in university and private clinic settings.
Broadly, Dr. Kanchewa’s research interests focus on factors that promote positive psychosocial development during adolescence and the transition to adulthood, particularly the role of mentoring and other supportive relationships, as well as interventions that draw on individual and community strengths. More recently, she has focused on the psychosocial experiences of underrepresented college students. She has collaborated with colleagues to develop mentoring interventions focused on promoting social capital and social support among first-generation college students.
In the department, she teaches Introductory Psychology, Psychology of Learning, and Abnormal Psychology. Additional teaching interests include multicultural psychology and life-span development. In addition to teaching, Dr. Kanchewa enjoys mentoring students outside of class, whether it is serving as an informational resource for academic/career goals, supervising research training opportunities, or supporting students at extracurricular activities.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, lounging in coffee shops (pre-pandemic), and listening to the latest Afrobeat music.
Recent Publications & Presentations
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Kanchewa, S., Christensen, K. M., Poon, C. Y., Parnes, M., & Schwartz, S. (2021).
More than fun and games? Understanding the role of school-based mentor-mentee match activity profiles in relationship processes and outcomes. Children and Youth Services Review, 120, 105757.
- Parnes, M.F., Kanchewa, S.S., Marks, A.K., Schwartz, S.E.O. (2020). Closing the
college achievement gap: Impacts and processes of a help-seeking intervention. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 67, 101121.
- Raposa, E. B., Rhodes, J., Stams, G.J., Card, N., Burton, S., Schwartz, S., Yoviene Sykes,
L.A., Kanchewa, S., Kupersmidt, J., and Hussain, S. (2019). The effects of youth mentoring programs: A meta-analysis of outcome studies. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(3), 423-443.
- Schwartz, S.E.O., Kanchewa, S.S., Rhodes, J.E., Gowdy, G., Stark, A.M., Horn, J.P.,
Parnes, M., & Spencer, R. (2018). “’I’m having a little struggle with this, can you help me out?”: Examining impacts and projavascript:void(0);cesses of a social capital intervention for first-generation college students. American Journal of Community Psychology, 61 (1-2), 166-178.
- Kanchewa, S.S., Yoviene, L.A., Schwartz, S.E.O., Herrera, C., & Rhodes, J.E. (2016). Relational experiences in school-based mentoring: The mediating role of rejection sensitivity. Youth & Society. Advanced online publication. doi:10.1177/0044118X16653534