Biography
Amanda has a background in education and social science research, specifically regarding measurement, survey development, and program evaluation. At the SRC, Amanda manages large-scale, multi-modal, longitudinal field studies, and RDD studies. Her personal research focuses broadly on the effects of traumatic experiences and childhood maltreatment on individual and family well-being, self-regulation, and learning. Specifically, her graduate work focused on the effects of symptoms of trauma on students' self-regulated learning and metacognitive monitoring.
Professional Experience
- Research/Graduate Assistant, Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness at Penn State (2015-2022)
- High School English Language Arts Teacher, AmeriCorps Teach for America, South Carolina Corps (2014-2015)
- Lab Manager, Early Social Development Lab at the University of Pittsburgh (2013-2014)
- Research Assistant, Cognitive Science Learning Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh (2011-2014)
Selected Publications
Ferrara, A. M., Khoeler, K., Rizzo, K., Bertuccio, R., & Panlilio, C. (2022). The cycle of student trauma, teacher stress, and teacher-student relational support: A case for supporting teachers’ self-care. APSAC Advisor, 33(2), 40-56.
Ferrara, A. M., Kaye, M. P., Abram-Erby, G., Gernon, S., & Perkins, D. F. (2022). Army home visitors’ implementation of military family violence prevention programming in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 11(1), 60-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cfp0000193
Kaye, M. P., Saathoff-Wells, T., Ferrara, A. M., Morgan, N., & Perkins, D. (2021). Exploratory structural equation modeling analysis and validity of the Family Needs Screener. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(21-22), NP11264-NP11290. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519888517
Ferrara, A. M., & Panlilio, C. (2020). The role of metacognition in explaining the relationship between early adversity and reading comprehension. Children and Youth Services Review, 112, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104884
Research Interests
Measurement, Survey design, Program evaluation, Traumatic experiences and symptoms, Childhood maltreatment, Self-regulated learning, Metacognition
Education
- Ph.D., Educational Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
- M.S., Educational Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
- B.S., Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
- B.A., Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh