
Introduction & Projects
Courtney Whetzel manages the Penn State SELF (Student Engagement, Learning, and Flourishing) Study, overseeing project setup, recruitment, enrollment and data collection. The goal of this project is to provide critical insights into the biobehavioral underpinnings of substance abuse and behavior among college students, and to inform the development and delivery of university-wide resources to enhance student well-being.
Dr. Whetzel holds a Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State where her research interests included investigating the biological underpinnings of stress and understanding the delicate balance of catabolic and anabolic hormones and their relation to everyday interactions. She has been working in the research field for more than 20 years. Before she joined the PRC, she served for nearly six years as an Institutional Review Board analyst.
Prevention-related Projects
Recent Publications
Change in college student health and well-being profiles as a function of the COVID-19 pandemic
Lanza, S. T., Whetzel, C. A., Linden-Carmichael, A. N., & Newschaffer, C. J. (2022). Change in college student health and well-being profiles as a function of the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS ONE 17(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267724
Penn State CORE (COllege Relationships and Experiences) descriptive statistics
Related News

July 26, 2022
Penn State funds a five-year study of the health and well-being of its students
Findings to inform ‘efficient, tailored supports’ for students UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of college students nationwide, according to recent studies. To better serve its own students, Penn State recently funded a five-year study to gain further insight into its students’ mental health status and needs.
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November 23, 2020
Video: Penn State prevention researchers respond to COVID-19
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September 30, 2020
Video: Impact of COVID-19 on Penn State Undergraduate Students
Watch the video here.
Read more.