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BETHANY RITTLE-JOHNSON

Principal Investigator

Professor Rittle-Johnson's research focuses on understanding how knowledge change occurs. Her specific interests are in how children learn problem-solving procedures and key concepts in mathematics. For example, what roles do comparison or generating explanations have in promoting learning of concepts and procedures? What early math knowledge supports later math knowledge? This research bridges between psychological theory and educational practice, and Professor Rittle-Johnson also collaborates with teachers and educational researchers to apply and test her research in educational settings. To view her faculty page, click here.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Camille Msall

Camile Msall

Camille is a sixth-year PhD student in Psychological Sciences (Developmental concentration) at Vanderbilt University, working with Bethany Rittle-Johnson. She graduated from Cornell College in 2017 with a B.A. in psychology. After graduation, she worked with David Uttal at Northwestern University. She is interested in young children's learning and cognitive development around mathematics.

Shang Li

Shang (Irene) is a second-year PhD student in Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. She earned a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences from Duke Kunshan University and Duke University in 2022. Before beginning her PhD at Vanderbilt, she completed an M.A. in Education with a concentration in Social Research Methodologies (Quantitative) at UCLA. Her research interests focus on children’s cognitive development in mathematics learning, in order to develop content to enhance their mathematical thinking and learning.

Xinran Wang

Xinran (Wendy) is a PhD student in Psychological Sciences at Vanderbilt University. She is co-advised by Dr. Cristina Zepeda and Dr. Bethany Rittle-Johnson. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA in 2022 and completed her M.S. in Cognitive Psychology in Context at Vanderbilt University. She is interested in understanding the profound interplay between metacognition, motivation, and the art of mastering new knowledge in STEM. Outside of academics, she enjoys anime, musicals, modern art, and pottery.

Chunxu Zong

Chunxu (Teddy) is a second-year master's student in the Quantitative Methods program at Vanderbilt University. His research interests include motivation, individual differences, and positive psychology, particularly in promoting students' academic achievement and well-being. Outside of the lab, he enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Emma Adams

Emma is a first-year master's student in Human Development Counseling on the dual track at Vanderbilt University, which encompasses school and clinical mental health counseling. She completed her B.S. in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences at the University of Florida in May 2025. Her goal is to become a counselor who works with youth, with a desire to help them feel comfortable and empowered within themselves so that they can go out into the world confidently and live a meaningful life.

Edith Garner

Edith is a first-year master's student in Child Studies on the Clinical and Developmental Research Track. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from Georgia Institute of Technology. Her primary interests are in academic motivation, grit, and educational psychology. In her free time, she enjoys ballroom dancing, gardening, and sampling coffee shops around Nashville.

Duncan Steeples

Duncan is a first-year master's student in Secondary Education with a concentration in Math Education at Vanderbilt University. He earned a B.S. in Mathematics and Educational Studies from Vanderbilt in 2024. Before joining the lab, he worked in the Division of Applied Mathematics at Brown University. His research interests include educational applications of machine learning, student inquiry, and discovery-based learning. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing chess and hiking.

Chunyu Zhu

Chunyu (Kara) is a first-year Master’s student in the Research Track of the Child Studies program. She received her B.S. in Research and Experimental Psychology from the University of Washington in Seattle. Her research interests center on the impact of childhood traumatic experiences on development, as well as the underlying mechanisms and interventions for anxiety and stress-related symptoms. In her free time, Kara enjoys watching documentaries—particularly those related to true crime, forensic science, and nature—and she is also an enthusiast of horror films!

STAFF MEMBERS

Shakira Abdul-Rauf

Shakira earned her B.A. from Wesleyan University, majoring in Psychology and African American Studies with a minor in Chemistry. Currently a full-time research assistant, she is passionate about directly serving diverse youth populations and contributing to the implementation and sustainment of evidence-based practices in educational settings.

Janessa Madison

janessa madison Janessa earned her B.S. in Psychology (Honors) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2024 and now serves as the lab manager. She is interested in how certain factors like discriminatory experiences, chronic illnesses, and exposure to violence contribute to psychosocial health outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys shopping, watching movies, and spending quality time with her friends.