Faculty Members
Hilary Barth, Ph.D. is a psychological scientist working within the broad area of human cognition and development. Main areas of interest are mathematical cognition; thinking and learning about number, space, time, and probability; social cognition; and decision making. She is director of the Yellow Lab. [Faculty Page; Publications]
Anna Shusterman, Ph.D. studies the relationships between language and conceptual development, primarily representations of space and number. Her lab uses behavioral methods to explore cognitive development and language acquisition in young children. She is also interested in the effects of atypical linguistic experience on conceptual representation. She is director of the Blue Lab. [Faculty Page; Publications]
Lab Coordinators
Erin Kim is the full-time Yellow Lab Coordinator. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2022 with a B.S. in Cognitive Studies and Child Development. She is interested in how adult communication and varying early environments such as culture and SES can affect how children develop an understanding the social world. As an undergraduate, she primarily researched how preschool-aged children and their families interacted with digital media and eBooks. In the future, she plans to attend graduate school for developmental social cognition.
Pritha Sengupta is a full-time Blue Lab Coordinator. She graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2022 with an M.A in Developmental Psychology. During her Master’s, her research focussed on fadeout effects of childhood interventions. She is interested in how early life environmental risk-factors related to poverty affect cognitive development. Outside of the lab, she enjoys cooking, reading poetry, and doing crosswords.
Skye Gasataya is a full-time Blue Lab Coordinator. She graduated from Trinity College in 2021 with a B.S. in Psychology and Philosophy. She is interested in emotional and cognitive development in bilingual households. During her undergrad, Skye conducted field work on the positive effects music had on elderly residents with dementia as well as understanding COVID-19 behaviors within a cultural context. Outside of the lab, Skye loves to write, travel with her family, and play with her dog Ru.
Graduate Students
Andi Wiley is a Psychology BA/MA student in the Blue Lab. She completed her BA with an Economics and Psychology double major with a Writing Certificate. Her work in the lab focusses on how demographic variables are associated with early numeracy skills. Outside of the lab, Andi works as an Academic Peer Advisor, volunteers for WesBuds and is a member of the Wesleyan Varsity Women’s Soccer team. She is looking forward to pursuing a career in education research and analysis after completing her masters.
Remi Feuerman is a Psychology BA/MA student in the Blue Lab. She completed her BA from Wesleyan with a Psychology and Computer Science double major with a minor in Education Studies. In addition to working in Blue Lab, she is involved in an Artificial Intelligence Research Lab that focuses on quantifying and adapting computer networks through machine learning and network analysis. Outside of lab work, she volunteers at the Middletown YMCA preschool and is a member of the Women’s Varsity Soccer Team.
Research Assistants
Blue Lab
Abigail Seevak ‘23 is an Education Studies and Psychology double major with a minor in Civic Engagement. While at Wesleyan, Abigail assistant teaches in a first grade class, volunteers for the Middlesex Coalition for Children, works at Star and Crescent Eating Club, and is a captain of the Vicious Circles Ultimate Frisbee team. She is passionate about social-emotional development and learning during early childhood. In particular, Abigail is interested in bridging research with practices in classrooms and children’s media.
Christina Xu ’23 is a Psychology and Economics double major with a minor in Data Analysis. She is from Beijing, China and has a passion for psychology counseling and diversity in psychology. She has experience working with preschool kids for over six months, organizing traditional Chinese activities as an outreach ambassador of AS, and teaching undergraduate students as a peer tutor and teaching assistant. With her multidisciplinary background in social science and quantitative analysis, she has abundant experience working with professors in cognitive psychology and history departments. She enjoys reading, exploring hiking trails, and spending time with her three cats in her free time.
Diana Schwarz ’23 is a Neuroscience and Psychology double major with hopes to attend medical or PA school after college. At Wesleyan, Diana is a member of the varsity field hockey team and participates in social media work for the athletic department and tutoring for psychology students. Diana has plans to work at Boston Children’s Hospital after graduation and is excited to learn more about pediatric healthcare. In her free time, Diana enjoys playing field hockey and basketball, embroidering, and spending time with her dog, Penny.
Julia Galligani ’23 is a Psychology and Film Studies double major with a minor in Education Studies. She was born and raised in the South of France. Outside of class, you might find Julia working in the Financial Aid Office or working on her Senior documentary thesis. Julia loves working with children and has spent time nannying for families as well as working in an international elementary school. In her free time, she enjoys photography, watching movies and reading.
Rebecca Berke ’23 is an American Studies and Psychology double major, with an Education Studies minor. She is from New York City and is passionate about working with children and the outdoors. On campus, Rebecca is a WesWell Intern and Peer Health Advocate, as well as a barista at Espwesso, all of which Rebecca is deeply motivated by and enjoys doing.
Ava Galdenzi ‘24 is a Psychology and Education Studies double major. She is on the varsity field hockey team, social media coordinator for the birding club, and a member of the habitat for humanity club. She also works at the Neighborhood Preschool. Outside of school, she likes to exercise, be outside, and play with her dog!
Danielle Garten ‘24 is a junior studying Psychology, Education Studies, and Environmental Studies from Baltimore, Maryland. She is president of the Wesleyan Jewish Community, a member of the club badminton team, and a tour guide for the Office of Admissions. She is interested in pursuing a career in environmental education after graduation. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading mystery novels, and playing trivia
Ellie Flynn ‘24 is a Psychology and Dance double major from Northfield, Massachusetts. After graduation she plans to pursue her Master’s in Forensic Psychology, and has enjoyed learning about child development and cognition from a different perspective. Ellie is passionate about advocacy, criminal justice, and human behavior. In her free time she enjoys good food, listening to music, and spending time with her three dogs.
Shakira Abdul-Rauf ‘24 (pronouns: she/hers) is a prospective Psychology and African American Studies double major with a minor in Chemistry. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and her family is from Ghana. Outside of the classroom, you might find Shakira working as a Writing Mentor or in the Exley Science library. Shakira also supports the African Student Association (ASA) and Minority Association of Premedical Students (MAPS) student-run groups as treasurer.
Maya Faber ‘25 is a Psychology and Education Studies double major with a minor in Jewish studies. Outside of the classroom, she is a member of the club tennis and ping pong team, loves to play the violin in school run musicals, and is also involved in the leadership board of the Wesleyan Jewish Community. Maya is passionate about understanding child development and using that knowledge and skill-set to help children in a hands-on way.
Yellow Lab
Addie Defeo ’24is a psychology major and French minor. She participated as a two-sport athlete in field hockey and lacrosse here at Wesleyan. She has a strong passion in working with kids and has worked as a therapeutic assistant teacher at FUSE therapeutic program with kids ages 3-8 years, volunteered at Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island in the patient experience department, tutored French and Chemistry in high school and French at Wesleyan, volunteered as an ebook buddy tutor to teach young children who spoke only foreign languages to learn how to read English, and has worked as a sports leadership mentor for young kids in sports (field hockey and lacrosse). She lives on a farm and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and animals in her free time!
Julia Dima ’25 is a double major in Psychology and Hispanic Literatures and Cultures. She is from New York City where she first became interested in developmental psychology by working as a camp counselor. She also volunteers with children in Middletown through the Traverse Square program. Additionally, she participates in stand-up comedy and improv on campus.
Molly Fung ’25 is a Neuroscience & Behavior and Psychology double major with a minor in CEAS. She is from Costa Rica and is mostly interested in cognitive science and development. Outside of school she volunteers as a reading tutor for elementary school students through WesReads and is involved in the K-12 CEAS Outreach Program where she teaches kids about Eastern Asian culture.
Emily Hauser ’25 is a Mathematics major and Education Studies Minor, is on the pre-med track, and is most interested in infant and child development. She is from Evanston, IL, where she discovered her interest in young children volunteering in a preschool, being a camp counselor, and working at the children’s hospital in Chicago. At Wesleyan, Emily is in a dance ensemble, does a capella, and is a TA for a Linear Algebra class.
Jessica Pordy ’24 