Amanda Davis

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Department: Psychology

Psychology & Human Service Stu, Office 125B

2337 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Email: adavis126@elon.edu

Phone number: (336) 278-3267

Professional Expertise

School psychology, teacher-student relationships, youth mentoring, positive youth development

Brief Biography

Dr. Davis is a school psychologist whose research focuses on enhancing the science and practice of promoting supportive relationships in schools. She draws on her clinical experiences working with children and families in schools, youth mentoring programs, and other community-based settings to better understand the foundations of nurturing relationships. Dr. Davis is especially interested in understanding how to measure the quality and quantity of school-based mentoring relationships.

News & Notes

Education

Ph.D. in School Psychology, University of South Carolina

M.A. in School Psychology, University of South Carolina

B.A. in Psycholoy, with honors, Wake Forest University

Courses Taught

PSY 2100 -- Lifespan Development

PSY 3820 -- Educational Psychology

Publications

Davis, A. L., McQuillin, S. D., DiStefano, C., Edmunds, S., & Hills, K. J. (2025). Developing a Behavior-Based Measure of Teacher-Student Relationship Quality. School Psychology Review, 1–16. https://doi-org.elon.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/2372966X.2025.2508682

Davis, A. L. (2023). Relationship-Building Behaviors: An Antidote to Loneliness. National Mentoring Resource Center. https://nationalmentoringresourcecenter.org/blog/relationship-building-behaviors-an-antidote-to-loneliness/

Davis, A.L., Yazdani, N., Kornbluh, M., & McQuillin, S.D. (2023). Exploring the impact of natural mentors on sociopolitical stress: Implications for educators and youth workers. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 14(3), 1-23. https://www.gjcpp.org/pdfs/DavisEtAl-Final_2.pdf

Samuels, J., Davis, A. L., & McQuillin, S. D. (2023). Assessing longitudinal impacts of mentor role on youth outcomes. Youth & Society, 55(5), 999–1025. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X231168439

Davis, A. L., & McQuillin, S. D. (2023). Exploring changes in the teacher-child relationship and children’s educational expectations. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 87, 101564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2023.101564

Kornbluh, M., Davis, A. L., Hoyt, L. T., Simpson, S. B., Cohen, A. K., & Ballard, P. J. (2022). Exploring civic behaviors amongst college students in a year of national unrest. Journal of Community Psychology, 50(7), 2950-2972. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22808

Davis, A.L., & McQuillin, S.D. (2022). Supporting autonomy in youth mentoring relationships. Journal of Community Psychology, 50(1), 329-347. http://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22567

Professional Activities

Research Board Member, National Mentoring Resource Center