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Bio
Dr. Stephanie E. Mahar holds a Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Technology Education from Washington State University and a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree from Wayne State University.
Dr. Mahar is a multiply neurodivergent second-generation biracial Filipino American.
Earning a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree and Washington State Librarian Certification in 2020.
After the Ph.D. hooding ceremony during the Spring 2026 commencement at Washington State University, Everett.
Research & Publications
Dr. Mahar's Ph.D. research focused on youth literacies and literature, especially diverse picture books and graphic novels, to promote social-emotional learning (SEL) and mental health literacy (MHL) among young people and their communities.
She has also examined Asian American youth graphic novels through the lens of SEL to foster greater awareness and appreciation of Asian American cultures and identities. Dr. Mahar's Ph.D. dissertation examined young adult graphic novels that depict the experiences of teenage girls living with anxiety disorders.
Presentations & Professional Service
At the 2023 Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Mahar organized and presented on a panel titled "Beyond 'American Born Chinese': Advancing Change through Asian Representation in Graphic Novels."
Dr. Mahar has also presented at the 2023 American Educational Research Association (AERA) and Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) conferences.
Panel discussion at the 2023 Young Adult Library Services Association Symposium in St. Louis, MO.
She has served on the Association for Library Service to Children’s Children and Technology Committee, the Young Adult Library Services Association’s Book Awards and Selection Lists Oversight Committee, the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature Committee-Youth/Young Adult Category, ALA’s Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18, and Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program in Seattle.
Through her research and service work, Dr. Mahar is dedicated to developing inclusive, culturally responsive strategies that promote empathy and understanding in education.
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