Nancy Deutsch

Nancy Deutsch, Ph.D.,  is the director of the UVA Center to Promote Effective Youth Development (Youth-Nex) at the Curry School of Education. She is a professor of research, statistics & evaluation and applied developmental science and is also affiliated with Curry's Youth & Social Innovation program.

Deutsch's research examines the socio-ecological contexts of adolescent development, particularly issues related to identity. She has focused on the role of afterschool programs and relationships with important adults. She is especially interested in the process of adolescent learning and development as it unfolds within local environments for better understanding about how to create settings that better support youth, especially those at risk due to economic or sociocultural factors. She received her B.A. from Vassar College and completed her Ph.D. in human development and social policy at Northwestern University. In 2017 Deutsch became editor of the "Journal of Adolescent Research." She had been an associate editor of that publication. She also sits on the editorial board for "Qualitative Psychology" and the research advisory board for the National Mentoring Resource Center.