Dr. Joslyn Armstrong is an instructor, an associate-licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Oregon, and an AAMFT-approved supervisor. Joslyn is an assistant professor in the marriage, couple, & family therapy program. She is an active member in AAMFT and NCFR organizations. Dr. Armstrong is a former fellow recipient of the AAMFT Minority Fellowship program. Joslyn is an advisor for GSoCA and assists with the BSU student orgs.
Personal Statement
In my work I aim to shift the narratives of fathers, specifically Black fathers within Black families. I utilize a Black intersectional feminist framework in my research and teaching.
Areas of Expertise
- African American/Black fatherhood
- Black father-child relationship quality
- Racial discrimination
Current Research
- Father identity & father involvement in Black families
- Black father-child relationship quality and closeness
Publications
Anderson, L., Notice, M., Armstrong, J., & Smith, K. (2024). The unspoken experiences of systemic supervisors of color: A modified Delphi study. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 51(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12749
Armstrong, J., & Armstrong, J. (2021, Fall). A critical race approach to academic journal editor and reviewer bias in manuscript acceptance. NCFR Report, Volume 66.3, pg. 17-19. https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/fall-2021/critical-race-approach-academic-journal-editor-and-reviewer-bias-manuscript-acceptance
Armstrong, J., Thorpe, S., & Williams, D. (2020). Sexual Attitudes, Religious Commitment, and Sexual Risk Behaviours among College-Aged Women. Journal of Gender Studies, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2020.1838888
Armstrong, J. (2020, July/August). “This Ish is Exhausting”: Acknowledging the emotional labor of Black MFTs. Family Therapy Magazine, Volume 19.4, pg. 6-9.
Armstrong, J., & Harris, S. (2019, Fall). The resiliency of black fathers dealing with work-family conflict. NCFR Report, Volume 64.3, pg. F8-9.
Armstrong, J., Chavez Carlos, F. L., Jones, J. H., Harris, S., & Harris, G. J. (2019). “A Dream Deferred”: How discrimination impacts the American dream achievement for African Americans. Journal of Black Studies, 50(3), 227-250. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021934719833330
Moore, D. D., Jefferson, B., & Armstrong, J. (2018). Barriers to successful fatherhood among African American men. The Griot: The Journal of African American Studies, 37(1), 54-82.
Presentations
Armstrong, J. (2024, November 19-22). “Daddy don’t go”: Black Fathers reimagine their father engagement when facing economic and employment constraints [Paper session]. National Council on Family Relations, Belle Vue, WA.
Armstrong, J. (2024, November 4-8). “I am always here for them”: Black fathers discuss characteristics within their father-child relationships [Conference session]. Systemic Family Therapy annual conference sponsored by AAMFT, Orlando, FL.
Williams, D., & Armstrong, J. (2023, March 29-April 1). Implications of the Pandemic on the sustainability of therapists in the field of MFT [Conference session]. International Family Therapy Association, Málaga, Spain.
Armstrong, J. (2022, June 23-25). A case study of Lebron James: An analysis on the significant shifts to Black fatherhood and manhood [Poster presentation]. American Family Therapy Academy annual conference, online.
Armstrong, J., & Sanchez, I. (2021, November 10-12). To the little boy inside: Working with Latino & Black men in therapy [Conference session]. Systemic Family Therapy Conference sponsored by AAMFT, virtual.
Carlos Chavez, F. L., Armstrong, J., & Sanchez, I. (2021, November 2-5). ‘I’d Like Something Better for Them’: Views on Sibling and Children’s Work Footsteps among Latino Migrant Farmworker Adolescents [Poster presentation]. National Council on Family Relations, virtual.
Armstrong, J., & Harris, S. (2021, March, 5). Grief and loss in Black families: Losing a father due to police violence [Symposium]. In collaboration with NW Association for Death Education & Bereavement Support and Compassion & Choices. Center for Community Engagement Workshop, online.
Academic Credentials
2019- PhD in Marriage & Family Therapy, Florida State University
2015- M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy, Texas Tech University
2013- BS in Family, Youth, & Community Sciences, University of Florida