Steven Berkley, PhD

Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences, University of San Diego

Faculty Affiliate, Africana Studies Minor

Dr. Berkley (he/him) teaches upper-division courses in developmental psychology. These include: Childhood and Adolescence, Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood, Adulthood and Aging, Close and Intimate Relationships (Senior Seminar), and Black Families. Berkley's research examines how family relationships and sociocultural contexts shape development across the lifespan. His work focuses on strength processes that support adolescent and young adult health and well-being.

Areas of Interest

• Black and Latinx families: Ethnic-racial socialization, racial discrimination, colorism

• Youth and Emerging adults: Identity, educational trajectories, sociopolitical development

• Stepfamily Dynamics: Childrearing practices, coparenting relationships

Yen Shiferaw

Yen Shiferaw (he/him) is a junior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration at the University of San Diego. He joined the REMP Lab in Summer 2025.

His qualitative study, “Playing Through Pressure: A Qualitative Study on Joy in Undergraduate Athletes of Color,” explores how athletes of color define, experience, and sustain joy while navigating institutional pressures and interpersonal challenges in collegiate athletics. Through themes of racial identity, emotional well-being, and culturally grounded resilience, Yen examines how joy can function as both resistance and identity affirmation. His work calls for more humanizing and joy-centered approaches to supporting athletes of color in higher education.

Yen plans to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology and is committed to integrating research, education, and mental health advocacy to advance the well-being of historically marginalized communities.