About Beth

15 years ago, I stepped into a new and wondrous world: I became a parent. That experience brought me a son, new roles to learn, and the inspiration to focus my career on supporting the vitally important work of parents. I entered a graduate program in Child Development and Family Relationships at the University of Texas at Austin when my son was 20 months old and received my Ph.D. in 2000. Since that time, I have worked as a university instructor and a program evaluation consultant with schools and community-based programs working with families. In 2006, I became a Certified Gottman Educator so that I could work directly with parents, as I continue to provide evaluation services to organizations working with at-risk children and their families.

I have a deep commitment to supporting families. I believe that the experience of caring for young children, while challenging, is tremendously rewarding and is a compelling force for positive change. As we recognize the joy and unique gifts of children, as we accept the powerful influence we have on them, we can be inspired to change ourselves, and even the world, for the better.

Qualifications

Education
Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Relationships from University of
Texas at Austin, 2000
Bachelor of Arts from University of California, Berkeley, 1987

Teaching Experience
Theories of Child Development, Northern Illinois University,
    Spring 2005 – Fall 2005
Child Development, Northern Illinois University, Summer 2004 -
    Fall 2004.
Family Relationships, The University of Texas at Austin,
    Fall 1997 - Spring 1998.

Publications
Marks, S. R., Huston, T. L., Johnson, E. M., & MacDermid, S. M.
    (2001). Role balance among white, married couples. Journal of
    Marriage and Family, 63, 1083-1098.
Jacobvitz, D. B., Riggs, S., & Johnson, E. M. (1999). Cross-sex and
    same-sex family alliances: Immediate and long-term effects on
    daughters and sons. In N. D. Chase (Ed.), Parentified children:
    Theory, research and treatment (pp. 34-55). Thousand Oaks, CA:
    Sage.
Johnson, E. M., & Huston, T. L. (1998). The perils of love, or why
    wives adapt to husbands during the transition to parenthood.
   Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 195-204.

Professional Affiliations
American Evaluation Association
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Council on Family Relations
Society for Research in Child Development
World Association for Infant Mental Health
Additional Training
Certified Gottman Educator