Sarah Mitchell, Ph.D., CFLE

Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science
Sarah Mitchell
She/her/hers

Summary

Sarah N. Mitchell earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Missouri in 2012 and 2019, respectively. Her research focuses on family structure and process; her primary areas of interest include LGBTQ+ individuals, identity formation processes, sexual orientation disclosure decisions, perceptions of familial support, gender, ethnicity, and the impact of intersecting identities (particularly minoritized statuses) within the context of family. She heads the IIRS (Intersecting Identities and Relationships Study) Research Lab mentoring undergraduate students (e.g., volunteer, McNair, PREP and NURA awardees) and graduate students.

The courses she has taught in HDFS (e.g., Human Sexuality, Intimate Relationships and Marriage, Black Families, Divorce, Introduction to Families and Children and Families in a Multi-ethnic Society) incorporate the study of diverse and underrepresented individuals and families. She is a Certified Family Life Educator and has a passion for teaching and mentoring students. She is also interested in community service and engagement involving working with and/or on behalf of diverse populations.

Courses taught

  • HDFS 720: Graduate Seminar – Theories of Human Development
  • HDFS 438: Children and Families in a Multi-Ethnic Society
  • HDFS 430: Advanced Studies in Human Sexuality
  • HDFS 202: Introduction to Families
  • HDFS 201: Lifespan Human Development

Undergraduate and Graduate students interested in joining the IIRS Research Lab or being a TA should email sarahmitchell@unr.edu with inquiries regarding opportunities for the upcoming semester!

Recent publications

*indicates UG student mentee

  • Mitchell, S., & Easton-Brooks, D. (in press). Black faculty serving black students during Covid-19: Reflections on impact, experiences, and best practices in higher education. Journal of Negro Education.
  • *Tsuzaki, E., & Mitchell, S. (in press). Exploring the lived experiences of plurisexual men of color. Nevada State Undergraduate Research Journal.
  • *Kent, M., *Matos, J., *Rianda, L., Walsh, B. A., & Mitchell, S. (in press). Homelessness in LGBTQ+ emerging adults: Understanding perspectives and the role of family. Nevada State Undergraduate Research Journal.
  • Mitchell, S., Landor, A. M., & Zeiders, K. (in press). An exploratory study of the influence of marital attitudes and skin tone on the romantic relationship quality of racial/ethnic minority young adults. In A. J. C. Hernández & S. L. Blair (Eds.), Conjugal trajectories: Relationship beginnings, change, and dissolutions, Contemporary perspectives in family research ( 22, pp. 1–23). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
  • Walsh, B. A., Mitchell, S., Batz, R., Lee, A., Aguirre, M., Lucero, J., Edwards, A. L., Hambrick, K., & Zeh, D. W. (2023). Familial roles and support of doctoral students. Family Relations, 1–21. 
  • Mitchell, S. (2022). Queering family trees: Race, reproductive justice, and lesbian motherhood by Sandra Patton‐Imani. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 14(4), 725–733. 
  • *Matos, J., *Kent, M., *Rianda, L., Walsh, B. A., & Mitchell, S. (2020). Homelessness in LGBTQ+ young adults: Understanding perspectives and the role of service providers. CLFE Network, 33, 14-16. 

In the media

Education

  • Ph.D., Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri
  • M.A., Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri
  • B.A., Psychology, University of Missouri