Lab Members

I am the director of the Early Learning Lab at Washington State University. I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Maryland with Dr. Geetha Ramani. I was an NSF Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California, Irvine with Dr. Barbara Sarnecka. I joined the Department of Human Development as an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood in Fall 2022. My research examines why some children are better than others at early math, and what parents, educators, and researchers can do to help kids who are behind. In my free time, I enjoy reading fiction, baking, and spending time with my family.

Morgan Conway is a Human Development major. She joined the lab in November of 2022 to gain hands-on experience working with children and making a difference. She looks forward to interacting with the participants to better understand how each child learns uniquely. After completing her undergraduate degree, Morgan wants to continue being a positive role model in children’s lives by becoming a certified child life specialist. Outside of school, Morgan is involved in a leadership role in her sorority and loves to spend quality time with her friends.

Amya Dahl is a third generation Coug who majored in Psychology, minored in Human Development, and completed a certificate in Adolescent Development. Amya was a research assistant in the lab from Spring 2023 through Summer 2024. She enjoys working with children to help better develop our understanding of how they comprehend learning and math in the early stages of development. After completing her undergraduate work at WSU in Spring 2024, Amya is working as a local mental health provider and plans to further her education by pursuing graduate programs to promote healthy youth development. Amya loves all outdoor activities like camping, fishing, snowboarding and being immersed in nature, as well as spending quality time with her friends and family.

Katelyn Kessinger is a Psychology major with a minor in Child Development. She was a research assistant in the lab from October of 2022 to May 2024 in order to learn about how research is set up and conducted, with a focus on child participants. She is interested in how children learn and process information. Katelyn graduated in Spring 2024 and plans to return to a graduate program at WSU Vancouver. When not doing schoolwork, Katelyn loves playing games with friends and dancing. 

Isabella Santiago is a double major in Human Development and Psychology. She was a research assistant in the lab from September 2022 through April 2024 to gain experience in the research process, experience with like-minded individuals, and experience aligned with the field of youth study. She enjoyed working with children and gaining a better understanding of their cognitive development from a new, research-oriented perspective. Isabella plans to continue pursuing graduate school studies after completing her undergraduate degree here at WSU. She loves weightlifting at the gym and spending time with her friends and family in her free time.

Ava Upson is a double major in Psychology and Human Development. She was a research assistant in the lab during Spring 2023 in order to gain experience in research. Her interests center around abuse prevention and trauma reduction. Her goal is to create an equine therapy center for children in her community. In her free time, Ava rides horseback, paints, and loves working with animals in any way she can! Ava graduated in Spring 2024 and hopes to attend graduate school for social work in the future.

Logan Ward was a research assistant in Spring 2023 studying Psychology with a minor in Human Development. Logan plays golf and has been playing guitar for 12 years! Logan graduated in Spring 2024 and is earning his Master’s in Public Health with a specialization in Mental Health from Johns Hopkins University.