Deanna Trella, PhD

Program Director
Professor
141 Senior Hall
Photo of Deanna Trella, PhD

Expertise

  • COVID-19 Focus: Children's Studies/Impact on Youth
  • Child & Family Homelessness
  • Child & Adolescent Development
  • Family Dynamics
  • Adolescent Romantic Relationships

About

Dr. Trella is a professor and director of children’s studies at Eastern Washington University. She has bachelor of arts degrees in English and sociology from the State University of New York at Geneseo. At Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio, she earned a master’s degree in social psychology as well as a doctorate in sociology with an emphasis on family and marriage and a minor in quantitative research methods.

Trella has over 10 years experience teaching in higher education. Her primary area of research concerns family and child homelessness. She is dedicated to using her expertise as an applied researcher to improve the welfare of homeless families and children and to strengthen economic, social, and educational outcomes in eastern Washington. To this end, Trella provides program evaluation and analysis for the Spokane Public School System, the Inland Northwest Community Foundation and the city of Spokane. Her research has been cited in local and national media.

In addition to her teaching and research responsibilities, Trella actively volunteers in the community with agencies that support homeless outreach and educational support for children. She is also a member of the Sacred Heart Children’s Health Council.

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