Daniesha Hunter-Rue, Ph.D.

Logo: Chatham C
Assistant Professor

Hometown: Hershey/Harrisburg, PA
Joined Chatham: 2026

ACADEMIC AREAS OF INTEREST

Developmental psychology, adolescence, equity, restorative practices, teaching of psychology, and education transformation.

PERSONAL AREAS OF INTEREST

Family, gathering, gardening, baking.

BIOGRAPHY

Daniesha Hunter-Rue, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist whose work examines how interpersonal relationships, structural contexts, and school environments shape adolescents’ academic and psychosocial well-being. Her research integrates developmental science with an equity-focused lens, investigating how factors such as family income, structural racism, restorative practices, and school disciplinary practices relate to youth behavioral and mental health outcomes. Trained as a Licensed Professional Counselor with prior clinical experience in outpatient and school-based settings, Dr. Hunter-Rue continues to work with children, adolescents, and families on concerns related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavioral challenges. She is also an experienced educator, having taught undergraduate psychology courses as well as English as a Second Language both domestically and abroad. Her work is grounded in a commitment to advancing equity in youth-serving systems and translating research into practices that foster healthy development for all young people.

EDUCATION
  • B.S., Villanova University (Villanova, PA), 2008
  • M.S., Chatham University (Pittsburgh, PA), 2017
  • Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA), 2025
ACHIEVEMENTS
  • 2024 Tim Post Award for Research Excellence
  • 2021 SRCD Towards 2044: Horowitz Early Career Scholar
ORGANIZATIONS
  • Society for Research in Child Development
  • Society for Research on Adolescence
  • Society for Teaching of Psychology Division 2 of APA
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
  • De Bellis, B., Vaughn-Coaxum, R., Huguley, J.P., Henderson, M., Hunter-Rue, D.S., & Eack, S. (2025). Trauma-Responsive Restorative Practices: Developing Relational, Emotional, Adaptive Minds Program (DREAMs). Children and Schools. 47(4)269–273 
  • Blatt, L., Hunter-Rue, D.S., & Votruba-Drzal, E. (2025). Moderating role of race/ethnicity on associations between externalizing behavior ratings and school suspensions. AERA Open, 11. 
  • Hunter-Rue, D. S., Miller, P., Hanson, J. L., & Votruba-Drzal, E. (2024). Relations between adolescent perceptions of household chaos and externalizing and internalizing behaviors in low- and middle-income families. Journal of Research on Adolescence.