Aimee is a doctoral student in Human Development at Penn GSE. She has research interests in metacognitive development (cognition about mental states and processes) and learning through self-regulated thinking in children and youths. Her focus is on developmental (i.e. cognitive & social-emotional) and socio-cultural variables influencing children and youths’ ability to think and inquire about their own thought toward individual self-development. Her interests are also in relation to children’s learning from mistakes; generalization of metacognitive control across tasks and domains; self-knowledge; and one’s construal of cognition. Currently, she is working with Dr. Douglas Frye on a project exploring preschoolers’ understanding of learning intention and theory of mind. She hopes to inform educational practices, to foster learning to think, and therefore maximizing children’s own learning.

email: yukakim@gse.upenn.edu

Katie Murphy is a first-year PhD student in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development and is interested in ways to improve developmental, educational, and health outcomes for children in low-income and impoverished settings.  For the past four years, Katie was based at the Earth Institute at Columbia University as the Deputy Director of the Master’s in Development Practice Secretariat, working with university partners around the world to launch cross-disciplinary training programs for practitioners in the field of sustainable development.  Prior to working at the Earth Institute, Katie was the Education Manager for the International Rescue Committee in Chad, working with Darfurian refugees to build and improve educational and recreational programs for children and youth.  Katie was also a health, sanitation, and education volunteer with the Peace Corps in El Salvador, where she lived in a rural community for 2 years working in education, health and income generation.  While serving as a Peace Corps volunteer, Katie was also president of the Gender and Development (GAD) for El Salvador, leading the development of national youth leadership workshops and teacher trainings on gender, self-esteem and HIV/AIDS.  Katie has a M.Ed in International Education Policy from Harvard and a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University.  

email: murphyka@gse.upenn.edu

Laura Murray is a doctoral student in the Applied Psychology and Human Development division at the Graduate School of Education. Prior to attending GSE, Laura worked for ten years as a documentary producer, director, and editor on social issue films, with an emphasis on mental health. She also taught social justice media production to college students. Laura’s research at PENN is currently evolving, but her work focuses on adolescent optimal development. Current projects include an investigation of intergenerational communication between “baby boomer” custodial grandparents and the “net generation” adolescent grandchildren in their care (with Dr. Diana Slaughter-Defoe); a study of early college high school students and their academic identity development (with Dr. Mike Nakkula); and a review of international curricula designed to teach adolescents about mental health and mental illness. Laura holds a B.A. in Film and Drama from Vassar College, a M.A. in Communication from Stanford University, and a M.S.Ed. in Human Development from the University of Pennsylvania.

email: lamurray@gse.upenn.edu

Brian is a doctoral student in the Applied Psychology and Human Development division. Prior to entering Penn, he received his Bachelors of Science in the field of psychology from Howard University. In addition to his doctoral studies, Brian serves on the Student Affairs and Students of Color Orientation committees. He has also served as a reviewer for the Journal of Urban Ed. and the Ethnography Forum, and as 2006-2007 Chair of the Association of African American Graduate Students in Education (AAAGSE). In addition, Brian tutors in West Philadelphia public schools and mentors minority undergrads who are considering applying to graduate programs (sponsored by the Graduate Student Center). Brian’s research interests include: phenotypic (e.g., skin tone) biases, expressions of aggression, academic aspirations, as well as perceptions of social class and vocational opportunities.

email: btinsley@dolphin.upenn.edu