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Diplomas / Degrees

Ph.D., University of Michigan (2006)
B.S., Duke University (2000)

Recent Courses

Developmental Psychology
Psychological Research Lab
Psychological Research Lecture
Psychological Statistics Lab
Psychological Statistics Lecture
S/T: Adult Development And Gerontology

Personal Statement

As a lifespan developmental psychologist, I am trained to be mindful of the “big picture.” I consider not only the current contexts in which individuals live, but also the past and the broader cultural and historical factors that shape people’s lives. My commitment to understanding this “bigger picture” is reflected in my teaching in a variety of ways. At the most basic, course-specific level, I want my students to understand how the different components of a single course only make sense in light of the course as a whole. To meet this teaching goal, I make a concerted effort in my classes to connect chapters, lectures, and assignments. At the content-specific level, I want my students to understand the big picture of psychology. In order to help them achieve this goal, I encourage them to interpret real-life experiences through the lens of psychology. At the most abstract but what I view as the most important level, I want my students to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills. In addition to learning goals, I place great importance on my relationship with my students and their relationships with each other. Psychology, of all disciplines, should be taught with the whole person in mind. To this end, I strive to get to know my students as individuals with unique life stories, motivations, and goals. By being enthusiastic, open-minded, friendly, and humorous, I create a warm, open, and safe environment both in my classroom and outside of it. Such an environment allows students to freely communicate, feel respected, take intellectual risks, and safely question their assumptions. Although not all of my students will pursue a career in psychology, I hope that for all of them the skills developed, the relationships created, and the assumptions questioned in my classes become integral parts of their lives.

Teaching Specializations / Interests

Developmental Psychology, Adult Development and Aging, Psychological Statistics

Research Interests

Mental and physical health of adults and the elderly, especially as related to social relations, interpersonal dependency, attachment, emotions, sense of control, self-efficacy, loneliness, religion, and spirituality

Grants / Sponsored Research

Wisconsin Longitudinal Pilot Grant, $10,000
“Social Exchange Networks and Health across the Lifespan: A Longitudinal, Pattern-centered Approach”

Recent Articles

Showing first 5 of 11. View All

Fiori, K. L., Consedine, N. S., & Magai, C. (2009, 6). Late life attachment in context: Patterns of relating among men and women from seven ethnic groups. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 24, 121-141.

Magai, C., Consedine, N. S., Fiori, K., & King, A. (2009, 2). Sharing the good, sharing the bad: The benefits of emotional self-disclosure among middle-aged and older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 21, 286-313.

Fiori, K. L., Consedine, N. S., & Magai, C. (2008, 11). The adaptive and maladaptive faces of dependency in later life: Links to physical and psychological health outcomes. Aging and Mental Health, 12, 700-712.

Fiori, K. L., Consedine, N. S., & Magai, C. (2008, 5). Ethnic differences in patterns of social exchange among older adults: The role of resource context. Ageing and Society, 28, 495-524.

Fiori, K. L., Antonucci, T. C., & Akiyama, H. (2008, 2). Profiles of social relations among older adults: A cross-cultural approach. Ageing and Society, 28, 203-231.

Invited Presentations and Lectures

Fiori, K. L. (01 August 2009). My Fulbright experience: Paving the way towards understanding mechanisms and engaging in international collaborations. Boston, MA.

Conference Presentations and Papers

Showing first 5 of 18. View All

Fiori, K. L., Consedine, N. S., & Magai, C. (01 November 2008). Late life attachment in context: Patterns of relating among men and women from seven ethnic groups. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, National Harbor, MD

Fiori, K. L., Consedine, N. S., & Magai, C. (01 July 2008). The adaptive and maladaptive faces of relating to others in later life: Links to physical and psychological outcomes. Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, Würzburg, Germany

Fiori, K. L., Consedine, N. S., & Magai, C. (01 November 2007). Ethnic differences in patterns of social exchange among older adults: The role of resource context. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA

Fiori, K. L., Consedine, N. S., Magai, C., & King, A. (01 October 2007). Sharing the good, sharing the bad: Gender and ethnicity moderate the benefits of positive and negative self-disclosure among middle-aged and older adults. Fourth International Conference on the (Non)Expression of Emotions in Health and Disease, Tilburg, Netherlands

Fiori, K. L., & Antonucci, T. C. (01 November 2006). Social relations and health among older adults: A network typology approach. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Dallas, TX

Honors and Accomplishments

2008 Scholarship Recipient for the 2008 RAND Summer Institute

2007 GSA Behavioral and Social Sciences Section Student Research Award (Dissertation Category)

2006 APA Div. 20 Retirement Research Foundation Completed Research Award, Honorable Mention

2005 – 2006 AARP Scholars’ Program

2005 – 2006 Daniel Katz Dissertation Fellowship

2005 Summer Training on Aging Research Topics – Mental Health (START-MH) Fellowship

2004 NSF/JSPS East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute

2004 Recipient of the Barbara Perry Roberson Endowment

2001 – 2002 Angus Campbell Award, University of Michigan

2000 – 2001 Fulbright Scholarship, Berlin, Germany

Professional Activities

Ad-Hoc Reviewer for the following journals:
Aging and Mental Health, Developmental Psychology, The Gerontologist, Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, Journal of Social Issues, Personal Relationships, Personality and Individual Differences, Research in Human Development

Symposium Co-Chair, Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) in Wuerzburg, Germany, July, 2008

Symposium Chair, Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, San Francisco, CA, November, 2007

Member of the Gerontological Society of America and the American Psychological Association (Division 20: Adult Development and Aging)