Education
- A.S. in general studies | Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah | 2015
- B.S. in psychology | Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah | 2017
- M.S. in human development and family studies | Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon | 2020
- Ph.D. in human development and family studies | Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon | 2022
- NIA T32 postdoctoral fellowship | Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania | 2022-2024
Academic and Professional Experience
Academic Responsibilities
Undergraduate Course Instructor
- HDFS 247: Human Development III: Adulthood
- HDFS 327: Research Methods in Human Development
Graduate Course Instructor
- HDFS/CHRD 602: Research and Evaluation in Counseling and Human Development
Committees and Professional Memberships
- National Psychology Honor Society member | 2015
- Gerontological Society of America member | 2018
- Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine member | 2022
- Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine Early Career Editorial Board | 2024
Research and Scholarly Work
Areas of Research
- Daily stress processes
- Healthy midlife and aging
- Marital relationships
- Emotions and mental health
Grants
- NIA R03 | total costs: $160,300 | Title: Stress and affective mechanisms that related to inflammation in older men and women
Publications
Select Publications:
- Witzel, D.D., Bhat, A.C., Graham-Engeland, J.E. and Almeida, D.M. (2025). The intersection of age, race and inflammation: Insights on “age three ways” from Midlife in the United States Study. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 127, 72-80. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2025.03.018
- Witzel, D.D., Chandler, K.D., Geldhof, J.G., Hooker, K. and Stawski, R.S. (2025). Marital quality buffers negative affective reactions to daily stressors during midlife. Family Relations, advance online publications, 1-17. doi: 10.1111/fare.13151
- Witzel, D.D., Van Bogart, K., Harrington, E.E., Turner, S.G. and Almeida, D.M. (2024). Loneliness dynamics and physical health symptomology among midlife adults in daily life. Health Psychology, 43 (7), 528-538. doi: 10.1037/hea0001377
- Witzel, D.D. and Stawski, R.S. (2021). Resolution status and age as moderators for interpersonal everyday stress and stressor-related affect. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. Advance publication. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbab006
