Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Shannon Elizabeth Dier

  • Assistant Professor - School of Family & Consumer Sciences
Portrait of Dr. Shannon Elizabeth Dier

Biography and expertise

Dr. Dier is a Certified Child Life Specialist with over 10 years of clinical experience in pediatric healthcare settings. Her research focuses broadly on coping and resilience in healthcare contexts, including an emphasis on child life practice and training.

Education

Doctorate Degree

PhD in Human Development and Family Science

University of Missouri-Columbia, 2024

Master's Degree

MS in Development and Family Studies

University of North Texas, 2010

Bachelor's Degree

BA in Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology

Alma College, 2008

Research Interests

  • Dier, Shannon Elizabeth (Principal), Percent Contribution: %90, Goble, Priscilla Maria (Co-Principal). Child Life Specialist Relationships and Hospitalized Children’s Coping and Behavior, Texas State University, $15976. (Submitted: October 2024, Funded: February 2025 - May 2026). Grant.
  • Seo, Eunjin (Principal), Alfaro, Edna C (Co-Principal), Behnke, Andrew Owen (Co-Principal), Dier, Shannon Elizabeth (Co-Principal), Goble, Priscilla Maria (Co-Principal), Shen, Yishan (Co-Principal), Weimer, Amy Ann (Co-Principal). Opportunities for Undergraduate Research in Human Development and Family Sciences (OUR HDFS): A Two-Track Training Program, TXST College of Applied Arts, Texas State University, $6000. (Submitted: September 2026, Funded: October 2026 - May 2027). Grant.
  • Shen, Yishan (Principal), Alfaro, Edna C (Co-Principal), Behnke, Andrew Owen (Co-Principal), Dier, Shannon Elizabeth (Co-Principal), Goble, Priscilla Maria (Co-Principal), Weimer, Amy Ann (Co-Principal), Seo, Eunjin (Co-Principal). Opportunities for Undergraduate Research in Human Development and Family Sciences (OUR HDFS): A Two-Track Training Program, TXST College of Applied Arts, Texas State University, $5000. (Submitted: October 2025, Funded: November 2025 - May 2026). Grant.
  • Dier, Shannon Elizabeth. Integrating Open Education Resources (OER) into HDFS 4354: Play and Child Development, University Libraries openTXST, Texas State University, $0. (Submitted: April 2025, Funded: May 2025 - Present). Grant.
  • Shen, Yishan (Principal), Goble, Priscilla Maria (Co-Principal), Alfaro, Edna C (Co-Principal), Behnke, Andrew Owen (Co-Principal), Dier, Shannon Elizabeth (Co-Principal), Seo, Eunjin (Co-Principal), Weimer, Amy Ann (Co-Principal). Opportunities for Undergraduate Research in Human Development and Family Sciences (OUR HDFS): A Two-Track Training Program, TXST College of Applied Arts, Texas State University, $6000. (Submitted: July 2024, Funded: September 2024 - May 2025). Grant.
  • Dier, S. E., Thibodeau-Nielsen, R. B., Palermo, F., Dooley, A., Rueda-Posada, M. F., & White, R. E. (2026). Parent conversations with young children: Implications for child well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Developmental Psychology, 62(10), 1985–1998. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001851
  • Dier, S. E., & Thibodeau-Nielsen, R. (2025). “Do you want to play doctors?”  An Exploratory Study of Parent Engagement in Medical Play with Preschool Children. Journal of Early Childhood Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X251363715
  • Dier, S. E. (2025). Revisiting Adult Roles in Play: An Expanded Continuum for Child Life Professionals. The Journal of Child Life: Psychosocial Theory and Practice, 6(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/https:/​/​doi.org/​10.55591/​001c.150264
  • Scruggs, X., Dier, S. E., Schlaupitz, C. A., Karayianis, K. A., Lukowski, A. F., & Bohanek, J. G. (2024). “What Does This Mean for Our Future?” Uncertainty Management in Mothers’ Narratives about the Diagnosis and Birth of Their Child with Down Syndrome. PLOS One, 19(11), e0313195. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313195
  • Dier, S. E., & Ravert, R. D. (2024). Disclosure Experiences of College Students With Chronic Medical Conditions. Emerging Adulthood, 12(5), 939–945. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968241261102
View all scholarly/creative works
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Outstanding College Teaching Graduate Student Award, College of Education and Human Development, University of Missouri. April 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Graduate Student Travel Award, Society for Research on Child Development. 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: RCAF Health Sciences 1st prize poster presentation, Graduate Professional Council, University of Missouri. 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Mary Elizabeth Gutermuth Award for Community Engagement, Graduate School, University of Missouri. April 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Research Development Award, Graduate Professional Council, University of Missouri. 2021
View all awards
  1. Editor

    ACLP Bulletin

  2. Reviewer / Referee

    Journal of Child and Family Studies

  3. Member

    Exam Resource Review Task Force, Child Life Certification Commission

  4. Reviewer / Referee

    PLOS ONE

  5. Undergraduate Advisor

    Kesem at Texas State University

  6. Member

    Child Life Committee

  7. View all activities