Headshot of Dr. Witzel

Dakota Witzel

Assistant Professor - Human Development in Context

Education

  • A.S. in general studies | Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah | 2015
  • B.S. in psychology | Utah Tech University, St. George, Utah | 2017
  • M.S. in human development and family studies | Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon | 2020
  • Ph.D. in human development and family studies | Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon | 2022
  • NIA T32 postdoctoral fellowship | Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania | 2022-2024

Academic and Professional Experience

Academic Responsibilities

Undergraduate Course Instructor

  • HDFS 247: Human Development III: Adulthood
  • HDFS 327: Research Methods in Human Development

Graduate Course Instructor

  • HDFS/CHRD 602: Research and Evaluation in Counseling and Human Development 
Committees and Professional Memberships
  • National Psychology Honor Society member | 2015
  • Gerontological Society of America member | 2018
  • Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine member | 2022
  • Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine Early Career Editorial Board | 2024

Research and Scholarly Work

Areas of Research
  • Daily stress processes
  • Healthy midlife and aging
  • Marital relationships
  • Emotions and mental health
Grants
  1. NIA R03 | total costs: $160,300 | Title: Stress and affective mechanisms that related to inflammation in diverse older men and women
Publications

Select Publications:

  • Witzel, D.D., Bhat, A.C., Graham-Engeland, J.E. and Almeida, D.M. (2025). . Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 127, 72-80. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2025.03.018
  • Witzel, D.D., Chandler, K.D., Geldhof, J.G., Hooker, K. and Stawski, R.S. (2025). Marital quality buffers negative affective reactions to daily stressors during midlife. Family Relations, advance online publications, 1-17. doi: 10.1111/fare.13151
  • Witzel, D.D., Van Bogart, K., Harrington, E.E., Turner, S.G. and Almeida, D.M. (2024). . Health Psychology, 43 (7), 528-538. doi: 10.1037/hea0001377
  • Witzel, D.D. and Stawski, R.S. (2021). Resolution status and age as moderators for interpersonal everyday stress and stressor-related affect. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. Advance publication. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbab006
Mailing Address:
Wenona Hall 206
School of Educ, Counseling & Human Dev-Box 0507
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007
Office Location:
Wenona Hall
Room 206
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