Mariah Kornbluh, PhD

Dr. Mariah Kornbluh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon and Director of the Oregon Youth Empowerment Project. Trained as a community psychologist with expertise in applied developmental science, she uses participatory, mixed-methods, and social network analysis to examine young people’s civic development across online and offline contexts.

Her research, funded by the Spencer Foundation and the World Templeton Foundation, investigates how youth assess online credibility, weigh relational considerations, and evaluate the risks and benefits of engaging in online civic action in polarized environments. This work spans diverse communities of children and adolescents in the United States and Northern Ireland.

With support from the William T. Grant Foundation, Dr. Kornbluh partners with educators and youth to co-develop school-based interventions that promote digital media literacy and responsible online engagement. Grounded in a commitment to youth well-being, her work examines how digital civic experiences can support or undermine adolescents’ sense of belonging, agency, and psychological health. She is a William T. Grant Scholar, recipient of the Early Career Award from the Society for Community Research and Action (APA Division 27), and a Research Member of the Jacobs Foundation’s Social Learning and Cultural Evolution program through the Society for Research in Child Development.

Dr. Kornbluh is committed to bridging research, practice, and policy to support healthy youth development in digital contexts. Her work offers practical insights for educators, families, and policymakers seeking to foster youth well-being, critical thinking, and civic participation in a digital world.

COI Statement: Dr. Kornbluh has nothing to disclose.