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Spencer James

Professor
School of Family Life, Family Life

2095 JFSB
Provo, UT 84602

Biography

Dr. Spencer L. James is an associate professor of Family Life and an Africana Studies affiliate at Brigham Young University. His research focuses on global family relationships and how those relationships influence the wellbeing of children, adolescents, and adults.

Research Interests

His research focuses on global family relationships and how those relationships influence the wellbeing of children, adolescents, and adults.

Within this broader stream of research, he focuses on two lines: the first on the consequences of family relationships for child well-being and the second addressing how and why people form, maintain, and dissolve romantic relationships. Presently, he is directing the Global Families Research Initiative, which aims to inform the curious public, policymakers, journalists, academics, and other stakeholders of current trends shaping contemporary family life across the globe. His current projects examine how family structure and child wellbeing are linked in sub-Saharan Africa.

Education

  • Ph.D, Sociology and Demography , The Pennsylvania State University (2012)
  • M.S., Sociology , Brigham Young University (2008)
  • B.S., Sociology , Brigham Young University (2006)

Honors and Awards

  • BYU Chantal Thompson Africana Studies Award, BYU Africana Studies (2022 - Present)
  • Best Public Scholarship Publication, BYU School of Family Life (2019 - Present)
  • Fulbright Scholar-University of Parakou, Benin, West Africa, United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Institute of International Education (2023 - 2024)

Memberships

  • International Association for Relationship Research (2013 - Present)
  • National Council on Family Relations (2011 - Present)
  • Population Association of America (2008 - 2015)

Courses Taught

Publications

Spencer L. James Jeremy B. Yorgason Spencer L. James Jeremy B. Yorgason Erin K. Holmes D. J. Johnson Dean M Busby Heather H. Kelley David C Dollahite Spencer L James Loren Dean Marks Heather Howell Kelley Y. Lee Ashley Brooks LeBaron Black David C Dollahite Spencer L James Loren Dean Marks T. Hall McKell Jorgensen-Wells Spencer L James Erin Kramer Holmes Laurie F. DeRose William Bradford Wilcox Pamela Levya-Townsend Javiera Reyes Brito Spencer L James David B. Allsop Chelom E. Leavitt Matthew T. Saxey Jenna M. Lawlor Jeremy B Yorgason Spencer L. James Spencer L James David A. Nelson McKell A. Jorgensen-Wells Danielle Calder Veronica Hanna-Walker Dean MM. Busby Chelom E. Leavitt Spencer L. James Braquel R Egginton Erin K Holmes Spencer L James Alan J Hawkins Stephen Farr Duncan Thomas Jack Esplin White Spencer L L. James Chelom Eastwood Leavitt Tawniele F. Maurer Tiffany L. Clyde Rebecca W. Clarke Dean M Busby Jeremy B Yorgason Erin Kramer Holmes Spencer L James Joana Salifu Yendork Spencer L James McKell A. Jorgensen-Wells Spencer L James Brian J Willoughby Jeremy B Yorgason Spencer L James Erin Kramer Holmes Dean M Busby Nathan D. Leonhardt Spencer L James Hal Robert Boyd Jason S Carroll Spencer L James Hal Robert Boyd Spencer L James Jason S Carroll Hal Robert Boyd Spencer L James Jason S Carroll Sherina Mwakamui Saasa Spencer L James Tiffany L. Clyde Jocelyn S Wikle Alan J Hawkins Spencer L James Thomas Jack Esplin White Stephen Farr Duncan Jeremy B Yorgason Spencer L James Erin Kramer Holmes Spencer L James Jini L Roby Brian J Willoughby Spencer L James Ian Marsee Madi Memmott Renee Dennison Paul R Amato Spencer L James Daniel K. Smedley Chelom E. Leavitt David B. Allsop McKenna Nance Spencer L. James Erin K. Holmes Jessica Lambert Alyssa Jane Banford Witting Spencer L James Lackmal Ponnamperuma Thulitha Wickrama Spencer L James Jini L Roby Lindsay J Powell Bryan A Teuscher Kelsey L Hamstead Kevin M Shafer Brian J Willoughby Spencer L James Kevin M Shafer Spencer L James Jeffry Hale Larson Brian J Willoughby Melissa Medaris Spencer L James Kyle Bartholomew Todd Lewis Goodsell Spencer L James Jeremy B Yorgason Vaughn R A Call Spencer L James Spencer L James Spencer L James Spencer L James Paul R. Amato Kevin M Shafer Spencer L James Spencer L James Brett A. Beattie Spencer L James Kevin M Shafer