Skip to Content

Jenny Yau, Ed.D.

Professor of Doctoral Studies in Education		 Phone: (626) 815-5363
Email: jyyau@apu.edu
Jenny Yau, Ed.D., a developmental psychologist, having 18 years of teaching experience in higher education in the U.S. and Hong Kong. Her expertise in working with K-12 children and educators in various cultural contexts provides a strong foundation for integrating theory and practice in her teaching. Her effective teaching and mentorship have been highly recognized. Her research interests include adolescent-parent conflicts, adolescents’ development of autonomy, children’s conceptualization of social rules and authority, and diverse learners in schools.

Education

Ed.D. – Developmental Psychology, University of Rochester
M.S. – University of Rochester
M.A. – Educational Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University
B.A. – Psychology,University of Waterloo

Courses Taught

EDUC 700 – Proseminar in Doctoral Study
EDUC 730 – Theories of Learning
EDUC 734 – Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners

Professional/Scholarly Presentations

Presentations
Kaiser, G., Yau, J., & Quinn, C. (2008, December). Chinese school administrators' perceptions of current educational reform in China today. Paper presented at the 2008 Conference of California Education Research Association (CERA).

Yau, J. (2008, April). Chinese-American adolescents' personal arena: An analysis of their self-disclosure to parents. Paper presentation at the 2008 Conference of the Western Social Sciences Association.

Yau, J., Brashear, N., Contrucci, N., and Speaker, N. (2007, April).  Beating the odds: The strengths of elementary teachers and principals in high-achieving low-income schools.  Presentation meeting sponsored by Noel Academy for Strengths-Based Leadership and Education, and Azusa Pacific University, CA.

Yau, J. (2005, November).  An analysis of Chinese teachers’ responses to preschool children’s transgressions from the Domain Theory perspective.  Presented at the Association for Moral Education annual conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Yau, J. (2004, August).  Chinese adolescents’ conceptions of parental authority in relation to their personal justifications for the conflicts with parents. Presented in an invited symposium titled “The role of independence and interdependence in adolescence: Adolescent-parent conflict and conflict resolution in diverse cultures” at the 28th International Congress of Psychology.

Publications
Yau, J. Tasopoulos-Chan, M., & Smetana, J. G. (in press). Disclosure to parents about everyday activities among American adolescents from Mexican, Chinese, and European backgrounds. Child Development.

Yau, J., Smetana, J.G., & Metzger. A (2009). Young Chinese children's authority concepts. Social Development, 18(1), 210-229.

Yau, J. (2007). Reforming the instructional directions for promoting young children’s moral and social growth: A qualitative analysis of six Chinese teachers' responses to preschool children's transgressions from the Domain Theory perspective. International Journal of Educational Reform, 16(2), 130-155.

Yau, J., & Smetana, J.G. (2003). Conceptions of moral, social-conventional, and personal events among Chinese preschoolers in Hong Kong. Child Development, 74(3),1-12

Yau, J., & Smetana (2003).  Adolescent-parent conflict in Hong Kong and Shenzhen: A comparison of youth in two cultural contexts. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27, 201-211.

View All Professional/Scholarly Presentations

Professional Experience

Academic Experience
Overseas invitation for lecturing: The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Consulting Engagements
Serving as programs External Examiner : The Hong Kong Institute of Education

Industry Experience
Reviewer for journals:  International Journal of Behavioral Development Social Development, Social Development, Child Development, and Family Issues.

Related APU News