Sheri R. Levy, Ph.D.

Columbia University (1998)

Sheri Levy will be reviewing graduate student applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Research Interests:

Ableism, Ageism, Climate Change, Climate Distress, Climate Resilience, Education, Human Rights, Intergenerational Relations, Lifespan Aging, Mental Health, Poverty, and Role Models

Current Research:

Sheri R. Levy is a social and developmental psychologist who conducts basic research and theory-driven interventions with children, adolescents, and adults. With interdisciplinary and international collaborators, she studies the interrelated topics of ableism, ageism, aging, climate change, climate distress, climate resilience, education, human rights, intergenerational relations, mental health, and poverty. Levy’s research team conducts lifespan research in several countries and uses a multi-method approach including archival data, curriculum evaluation, experiments, fieldwork, interventions, longitudinal studies, meta-analyses, and surveys. 

In one line of research, Levy developed a model for reducing ageism and promoting intergenerational peace called the PEACE (Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences) model. This model integrates findings and theorizing from several literatures including psychology, gerontology, social work, sociology, and medicine. PEACE model interventions have been shown to increase aging knowledge and interest in careers in geriatrics as well as reduce negative stereotyping of and attitudes toward older adults, young adults, aging anxiety, and concerns about aging. 

In another line of research, Levy developed a model called TIIME (Toward an Inclusive Intergenerational Model of Ecology), which has been applied to understanding climate change, distress, and resilience. For example, Levy’s collaborative team have shown that TIIME provides a comprehensive stocktake of the dynamic multisystem forces in individuals’ lives and their networks that serve as protective or risk factors as they navigate environments with deepening poverty and increasing vulnerabilities to being pushed into poverty. 

Since 2021, Levy has been involved in climate change initiatives as a Representative for the United Nations (UN) Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Psychological Study of Social Issues (Division 9 of the American Psychological Association [APA]) and for the Psychology Coalition of NGOs accredited at the UN. In 2025, Levy began a 3-year term as President-Elect, President, and Past-President of the Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology (Division 34 of APA).

VITA CV

Representative Publications:

^ Graduate Student Collaborators (Current and Former)

^^ Undergraduate Collaborators Current and Former)

Levy, S.R. (2026). Optimizing the Health and Wellbeing of Older Adults in the Climate Crisis: Application of an Ecological Systems Model. Geriatrics and Healthcare, 1(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.64187/gh.2026010103

Levy, S.R., ^Lytle, A., ^Monahan, C., & ^^Huang, Y-S. (2026). Reshaping Views of Older Adults, Young Adults, and Intergenerational Relations: Anti-Ageism Websites. The Gerontologist, 66(7), https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnag129

Levy, S.R., ^Monahan, C., ^Araiza, A., ^Ramírez, L., & Palacios-Espinosa, X. (2025). Reducing Climate Change Denial and Increasing Support for Climate-Friendly Policies: The Role of Climate Change Education. Journal of Social Issues. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12664 

Levy, S.R., & ^Morrison, L. (2025). Making the Case for a National Policy of Public Education about Lifespan Aging. Public Policy & Aging Report, 35(1), 24-28. https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/praf001

Levy, S.R., ^Ramírez, L., & Barbosa, S. (2025). Application of TIIME (Toward an Inclusive Intergenerational Model of Ecology) to Experiences of Poverty. Environmental Justice Research, Prevention, and Intervention Efforts. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 14(3), 174–183. https://doi.org/10.1027/2157-3891/a000135

^Ramírez, L., Levy, S. R., Barbosa, S., Bottin, M., Ocampo-Palacio, J. G., Cadavid, S., Pizarro, A. B., & Quesada, B. (2025). A call for a greater collaborative role from psychology in climate change education interventions focused on children/youth. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne, 66(4), 296–311. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000408

Levy, S.R., ^Gopang, M., ^Ramírez, L., Bernardo, A.B.I., Ruck, M.D., & ^Sternisko, A. (2024). A Human Rights Based Approach to Climate Injustices at the Local, National, and International Levels: Program and Policy Recommendations. Social Issues and Policy Review, 18(1), 3-30.  https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12103

^Monahan, C., Levy, S.R., & ^Lytle, A. (2024). Reducing Ageism and Ableism With Brief Videos Providing Education About Aging and Disabilities and Exposure to Positive Intergenerational Contact. The Gerontologist, 64(12), gnae137. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnae137 

^Apriceno, M., & Levy, S.R. (2023). Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Effective Programs for Reducing Ageism Toward Older Adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(6), 1356-1375. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231165266 

Levy, S.R., & Gu, D. (2023). Adult Lifespan Development is Largely Missing from the PK-12 Health Standards: A Risk Factor for U.S. Society. The Gerontologist, 63(5), 831–839. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnac169

Levy, S.R., ^Lytle, A. & ^Macdonald, J.L. (2022). The Worldwide Ageism Crisis. Journal of Social Issues, 78(4), 743-768. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12568

Levy, S.R., Migacheva, K., ^Ramírez, L., Okorodudu, C., Cook, H., Araujo-Soares, V., Minescu, A., Livert, D., Ragin, D.F., & Walker, P. (2022). A Human Rights Based Approach to the Global Children’s Rights Crisis: A Call to Action. Journal of Social Issues, 78(4), 1085-1097. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12563

^Ramírez, L., ^Monahan, C., Palacios-Espinosa, X., & Levy, S.R. (2022). Intersections of Ageism toward Older Adults and other Isms during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Social Issues, 78(4), 965-990. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12574

^Monahan, C., ^Macdonald, J., ^ Lytle, A., ^Apriceno, M., & Levy, S.R. (2020). COVID-19 and ageism: How positive and negative responses impact older adults and society. American Psychologist, 75(7), 887-896. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000699

^Ramírez, L., Palacios-Espinosa, X., ^Dyar, C., ^Lytle, A., & Levy, S.R. (2019). The Relationships Among Aging Stereotypes, Aging Anxiety, Social Support, Religiosity, and Expected Health Among Colombians. Journal of Adult Development, 26(1), 57-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-018-9299-8

Levy, S.R. (2016). Toward reducing ageism: PEACE (Positive Education about Aging and Contact Experiences) Model. The Gerontologist. Article first published online: 10 AUG 2016, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw116

^Shin, J.E.L., Levy, S. R., & London, B. (2016).  Effects of Role Model Exposure on STEM and Non-STEM Student Engagement. Journal of Applied Social Psychology. 46(7), 410-427, doi: 10.1111/jasp.12371