Valerie Adams-Bass

Assistant Professor of Education

  • Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 2011
  • Post-Graduate Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, 2008
  • M.Ed., Temple University, 2002

My research examines the relationships of racial socialization and racial identity with the developmental processes, social and academic outcomes of Black children and youth. I am particularly interested in how Black adolescents interpret negative media stereotypes and whether the messages presented are internalized or buffered as a result of racial socialization experiences. I am also interested in research informed culturally relevant professional development for practitioners who work with African American youth and families. I believe in connecting research to practice. I have been a lead consultant with the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey's Center for Youth Development, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and the Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh Teen Services Department. Recently, I worked with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council to revise the Teen Reading Lounge Program into a culturally inclusive out-of-school program for adolescents. As an applied researcher, I have conducted research with urban African American and Latino adolescents, South African youth and facilitated training with adults and youth on college preparation, science, civic engagement, and life skills curriculum and activities.

Research Interests

  • African American
  • Adolescents Media Stereotypes
  • Positive Youth Development 

  • Racial/Ethnic Socialization

Publications

PEER REVIEWED ARTICLES:

Coleman-King, Adams-Bass, V.N., Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Thomas, D., C, Thompson, C., Michael, A., Miller G., Charity-Parker, B.M. & Stevenson, H.C. (2021). Got Skillz? Recasting and Negotiating Racial Tension in Teacher–Student Relationships Amidst Shifting Demographics. Social Sciences, 10(3), 99. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10030099

Gaylord-Harden, N., Adams-Bass, V.N., Bogan, E., Francis, L., Scott, J., Seaton, E., Williams, J. (Under review). Addressing Inequities in Education: Considerations for Black Children and Youth in the Era of COVID-19. Social Policy Research.

Chapman-Hilliard, C., Hunter, E., Adams-Bass, V., Mbilishaka, A., Jones, B., Holmes, E., & Holman, A. C. (2020). The Roles of Racial Identity and Blacks’ Historical Narratives in Predicting Civic Engagement among Black Emerging Adults. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.

Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Stevenson, H. C., Thomas, D. E., Adams-Bass, V. N., & Coleman-King, C. (2020). Teaching scared: pre-service teacher appraisals of racial stress, socialization and classroom management self-efficacy. Soc Psychol Educ, 23, 1233–1257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-020-09578-8

Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Smith, L. V., Robbins, P. A. & Adams-Bass, V. N. (2019). Out of the Hood, but Not Out of the Woods: The School Engagement and Cohesion of Black Students Based on Exposure to Violence and Victimization. Journal of Urban Issues.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

Adams-Bass, V.N., & Coleman-King, C.C. (2021). The Guardians of Black joy: Freedom Schools as Spaces of Healing and Protection. In T.O. Jackson and N. Flowers (Eds). Black Mother Educators: Advancing Praxis for Access, Equity and Achievement. Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.

Adams-Bass, V.N. (2021). A matter of media: Cultural appropriation and expectations of Black girls. In S. J. Arki, B. Delano-Orriaran, A. Michael, E. Moore, M. W. Penick-Parks & O. Swindell (Eds.), Teaching Brilliant and Beautiful Black Girls. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.

Adams-Bass, V.N. & Bentley-Edwards, K. L. (2020). The trouble with Black girl magic for Black girls. In Strong Black Girls Reclaiming Schools in Their Own Image. Apugo, D. Mawhinney, L. and Mbilishaka, A. (Eds.), Teachers College Press.

Adam-Bass, V.N., Henrici, E. (2019). Hardly ever…I don’t see it: Black youth speak about positive media images of Black men. In Banjo, O. (Ed.) Media Across the African Diaspora, Content, Audiences and Influence. Routledge: New York.

Chapman-Hilliard, C & Holman, A.C & Adams-Bass, V.N. (2019). The psychosocial influences of Black history knowledge.  In Perspectives of Black Histories in Schools. King, L. (Ed)., Information Age Publishing/IAP.

Deutsch, N.L., Williams, J.L. & Adams-Bass, V.N. (2019). Diversity in Extended Education in the United States. In Bae, S., Mahoney,  J., Maschke, S., and Stecher, L. (Eds) International developments in research on extended education: Perspectives on extracurricular activities, after-school programs, and all-day schools. Barbara Budrich Publishers: Berlin.

In Press

Bentley-Edwards, K. L., & Adams-Bass, V.N. (In-press, 2021). The whole picture: examining Black women through  the life span. In Afrikan American Women: Living at the Crossroads of Race, Gender, Class, and Culture (revised). H. O. Jackson Lowman (Ed.), Cognella Press/University Readers.

Adam-Bass, V.N. & Chapman-Hilliard, C. Better to Have than to Have Not: Black History Knowledge, Educational Aspirations and Academic Achievement. Journal of Negro Education. Accepted.

Blogs

Adams-Bass, V.N. (2020, May 5th). Black American Parenting During the CoVid-19 Crisis. (Web blog post) 

Adams-Bass, V.N. (2019, March 7th). More than Reading, Writing, and ‘Rithmetic: Racial Socialization for Black Children. (Web blopre-serg post)

Adams-Bass, V.N. (2017, April, 10th). The Power of Youth Driven Civic Engagement. (Web blog post)

Adams-Bass, V.N. (2017, March, 21st). Media Socialization, Racial Stereotypes and Black Adolescent Identity. (Web blog post) 

Adams-Bass, V.N. (2016, October, 31st). Itching for Scratch. The Youth-Nex Blog (Web blog post)

  • Black Panther & Positive Youth Development

    Valerie Adams-Bass discusses the hugely successful Black Panther film and its implications for young people of color. Recorded live on February 23, 2018.

  • Race & Equity in Education

    A discussion on race and equity in education with our own Valerie Adams-Bass and a special guest, race and education policy expert Gloria Ladson-Billings.

Resources