Education
Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Delaware
M.A., Psychology, West Chester University
B.A., Psychology, West Chester University
Nikki DiGregorio
Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise
LGBTQIA+ individuals and families
Gender expression
Social policy
Program development and evaluation
MIxed methods research designs and analyses
Scholarship of teaching and learning
Biography
Dr. DiGregorio joined the Department of Family Science in 2023 and received a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Delaware in 2014. Prior to joining the faculty at Towson University, Dr. DiGregorio taught at the university level in southeast rural Georgia for nine years.
Dr. DiGregorio’s scholarly, teaching and service areas are inextricably linked by a common thread: the desire to examine and deconstruct aspects of the social world that reify oppression as experienced by underrepresented populations. Dr. DiGregorio’s primary line of research explores how underrepresented individuals, families and communities navigate social structures and their influences on various aspects of health (e.g., sexual health and behavioral health). More specifically, Dr. DiGregorio engages in interdisciplinary work around gender, sexualities, social policy and family services programming. Dr. DiGregorio dovetails this research with scholarships that systematically explore teaching and learning to leverage this understanding to improve access to resources and services for historically underrepresented groups and to reduce bias and discriminatory policies. Dr. DiGregorio’s pedagogy is rooted in the belief that we are always learning and views the classroom as a place with a potential for transformative experiences within and beyond its walls. As such, Dr. DiGregorio's research, teaching and service inform one another and prioritize supporting communities on and off campus.
Selected Publications
Klibert, J., DiGregorio, N., Houseman, H., Simpson, M., Edward, D., Murphy, E., & van Zyl, L. (2025). The identification
and structure of strengths within the LGBTQIA+ community: A qualitative and empowered thematic investigation. International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology.
McConatha, M. & DiGregorio, N. (2025). One health and human services: A course in land-based care work. In J. Wadley (Ed.). Special topics in human services. Routledge/Taylor & Francis.
Rich, A. J. & DiGregorio, N. (2025). Theory of change logic modeling to support trauma-informed program design
and implementation. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
Willis, B., DiGregorio, N., Greiving, J. E., Dutton, C., & Payne, P. B. (2024). What are students reading?
An exploratory study of bookstore acquisitions for introductory family science courses. Marriage and Family Review. 61(1), 6-29. Doi: 10.1080/01494929.2024.2426996.
Todd, M. & DiGregorio, N. (2024). Non-binary identity development: a retrospective exploration of family support.
LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 1, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/27703371.2024.2402290.
DiGregorio, N., Rich, A., & Evans, L. (2024). Connecting the past and the future with culminating
experiences in the social sciences. In M. Strawser & R. Yaure (Eds.), Interdisciplinary
Approaches to Culminating Student Experiences. Vernon Press.
DiGregorio, N., & Maurer, T. M. (2023). Undergraduate Students’ Attitudes Toward Marriage Equality:
Changes in an Introductory Family Science Course. Family Science Review, 27(3). http://doi.org/10.26536/ZCTL3235.
Shannon-Baker, P. & DiGregorio, N. (2022). Beyond expanding an acronym: Strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ people in
schools. In: Dhakal, S., Cameron, R., & Burgess, J. (Eds.), A Field Guide to Managing
Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in Organisations. Edward Elgar Publishing.
DiGregorio, N. & *Selph, J. (2022). Small town politics, stigma, and services: Understanding the
unique needs of rural families post-reunification. Journal of Social Service Research,
460-471. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2022.2087825.
DiGregorio, N. (2022). Language Use and the Social Affordances of Marriage: An Exploration of the
Experiences of Cisgender Gay Men. In A. Hoy (Eds), The Social Science of Same-Sex
Marriage: LGBTQ People and Their Relationships in the Era of Marriage Equality (pp.
255-270). Routledge.
DiGregorio, N., & Liston, D. (2022). Enhancing student self-reflection in college-level diversity
courses. College Teaching, 70(1), 98-104. doi: 10.1080/87567555.1901068.
Gregg, K., Dove, M., & DiGregorio, N. (2021). Instructional scaffolding in internships:Supporting future professionals
in Family Science. Syllabus, 10(2), 1-14. https://www.syllabusjournal.org/syllabus/article/view/271.
Rich, A., DiGregorio, N., Strassle, C. (2020). Trauma informed systems in the context of intellectual and
developmental disability services: Perceptions of service providers. Intellectual
and Developmental Disabilities, 25(4), 603-618. doi: 10.1177/1744629520918086.
DiGregorio, N. (2019). Same-sex marriage and the language appropriation practices of gay men. Submitted
to the Journal of Homosexuality, 2, 40-65. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2019.1701335.
DiGregorio, N. (2018). Same-sex marriage and language appropriation practices of lesbian women.
Journal of Homosexuality, 66(9), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2018.1500777.
DiGregorio, N. (2018). Effective teaching of objectification and sexualization. Family Science
Review, 22(4), 23-37. https://www.familyscienceassociation.org/journal DiGregorio, N. & Liston, D. (2018). Experiencing technical difficulties: Teacher self-efficacy
and instructional technology. In C. Hodges, Springer book, “Self-efficacy in Instructional
Technology Contexts."
DiGregorio, N. (2016). Same-sex marriage policies and lesbian family life. Sexuality Research & Social
Policy, 13, 58-72. doi: 10.1007/s13178-015-0211-z.