Dr. Marcus-Mendoza is an Associate Professor of Human Relations and Women's Studies, the Chair of the Department of Human Relations, and a licensed psychologist. She started her undergraduate work as a child development major at Connecticut College, then received her B.S. in psychology at the University of Houston. She earned an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Clinical/Community Psychology at Texas A&M and completed her predoctoral internship in community psychology at Baylor College of Medicine. She has been on the faculty of the Department of Human Relations since 1992, and has been chair of the department since 1999. Prior to joining the HR faculty, she held positions as a chief psychologist at a federal prison camp for women, and as a staff psychologist at OU's Goddard Health Center.

Courses taught include Counseling Skills, Women and Mental Health, Theoretical Foundations of Human Relations, and Current Problems in Human Relations. The primary focus of her research is women inmates and prison programming. Specifically, she is interested in learning why women commit crimes, and how they adjust to life after prison, as well as, interventions for women in prison and in the community that help address the specific needs of women convicted of crimes.

Recent publications include:

• Marcus-Mendoza, S. T., & Wright, E. (2004). Decontexualizing female criminality:Treating abused women in prison in the United States. Feminism & Psychology, 14 , 250-255.
• Marcus-Mendoza, S. T. (In press). Feminist therapy behind bars. Women Studies Quarterly.