Faculty Profile
Ph.D. Temple University, 1980
B.A. Temple University, 1973
1980
I’ve been at Kenyon since 1980, so I’ve gone through all of the ranks
here (assistant, associate, and full professor). I’m currently Professor
of Psychology and Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies. I also
contribute to the introductory Neuroscience course.
In recent years, I’ve also served as a consultant to the McKnight Risk
Factor Study, the Harvard Eating Disorders Center, and the Office on Women’s
Health (U.S. D.H.H.S.). |
I was originally hired to teach Developmental Psychology. That
continues to be my absolute favorite course to teach. What could
be more exciting than understanding how an infant grows into an adult,
physically, psychologically, and socially? I hope that students come
away from this course with a framework for interpreting research.
The field changes too quickly to learn all of the currently available studies.
Instead, people need tools to interpret and use new information as it becomes
available. In line with this, I also teach statistics and Research
Methods in Developmental Psychology. It’s not that I think that empirical
data hold all of the answers; they do not. But I do think it’s crucial
for people to understand what data can and cannot tell us. I also
think it’s crucial to understand how our belief systems shape the data.
I try to help students challenge assumptions in the psychology courses
I teach as well as in Women’s and Gender Studies and in Neuroscience.
Given this, it is probably no surprise that I supervise a fair number
of independent studies, summer science, and honors projects. I really
enjoy working with students and seeing their excitement as they raise and
begin to answer questions. |
My research concerns body image and eating problems, particularly in
young girls though I am currently examining some of these issues in boys.
I am especially interested in developmental issues. When do children
become aware of media images of attractiveness? What is the balance
of peer, school, family, and media influences on body image? In line
with a Bronfenbrenner Ecological Systems approach, we (Michael Levine,
Sarah Murnen, and I) are asking whether changes in the school environment,
particularly in terms of sexual harassment, can prevent the development
of body image and eating problems as well as, perhaps, depression.
I am interested in how social conceptualizations of gender shape a child’s
environment leading to the very pronounced gender differences in rates
and types of eating and body image problems. |
| Recent Publications (students shown in
bold) |
Smolak, L., Harris, B., Levine, M. P., & Shisslak, C. (in
press). Teachers: The forgotten influence in prevention. Eating
Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention.
Smolak, L., & Levine, M.P. (in press). A two-year follow-up
of a primary prevention program for negative body image and unhealthy weight
regulation. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention.
Smolak, L., & Levine, M. P. (2001). Body image in children.
In J.K. Thompson & L. Smolak (Eds.), Body image, eating disorders,
and obesity in youth: Assessment, prevention, and treatment (pp. 41-66).
Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Smolak, L., & Murnen, S. K. ( in press). A meta-analytic examination
of the relationship between child sexual abuse and eating disorders.
International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Smolak, L., & Murnen, S. K. (2001). Gender and eating problems.
In R. Striegel-Moore & L. Smolak (Eds.), Eating disorders: Innovative
directions in research and practice (pp. 91-110). Washington,
DC: American Psychological Association. |
| Committees, Organizations, and Groups |
Kenyon College Equestrian Team (Faculty Advisor)
Tenure & Promotion Committee |
I have four professional projects right now. I am working on
a book about the primary prevention of eating disorders with Michael Levine.
Michael and I are also currently collecting data to refine a manual aimed
at changing the school environment that we have developed. Bryn Harris
’02 is helping us with this project. Sarah Murnen, Lindsey Good ’01,
Andy Mills ’02, and I have just finished collecting data on a project that
looks at understanding of gendered media image among elementary school
boys and girls. I also just collected data for a project looking
at media, peer, and family influences on body image among middle school
boys and girls. I am collaborating with J. Kevin Thompson of the
University of South Florida on this project. |
| The best thing about being at Kenyon is |
The students. No doubt about it. The students here are
well motivated, bright, interesting people. I can honestly say that
I would have left Kenyon years ago if I hadn’t liked the students so much. |
| Hobbies and favorite things |
My favorite thing is riding. I have two horses. Cari is
a 14 year old thoroughbred mare and Bud is a 25 year old appaloosa gelding.
I ride dressage and even occasionally show a little bit.
I also have a wonderful dog, Hershey. My husband, Jim Keeler (a
Professor of Economics at Kenyon) and I enjoy walking her in the woods
behind our home. I also have two cats.
Like all moms, I love to brag about my kids. I have three.
My daughter Marlyce (Beloit, ’00) is a lighting tech in Portland OR.
My son Jesse (KSU, ’01) is a computer engineer in Phoenix. And our
youngest, Meghan, is a student at Kalamazoo College (class of ’02).
Finally, I never miss an episode of ER. I’m a sports fan—especially
basketball and baseball but also women’s tennis and equestrian, of course—and
catch as many games as I can given that I don’t have cable. |
| One thing to do or accomplish in life |
I’m really very happy and satisfied with my life. I’d like to
continue to grow in my teaching and research, improve my riding, and spend
more time just hanging out with my family and friends. |
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