Christine McWayne, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Post Docs and Graduate Students

Former Postdocs

Recent Graduates

Research Assistants

Post Doctoral Scholar

Nan Xiao

Post Doctoral Scholar
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Education
Ph.D. 2022, The University of Hong Kong, Developmental Psychology
Adviser: Dr. Xiao Zhang, Dr Man Tak Yuen

M.S.S. 2017, The University of Hong Kong, Psychology
Adviser: Dr. Antoinette Lee

B.B.A. 2011, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Major: Accounting and Finance

Research Interests
My research interests are broadly focused on understanding how factors how contextual factors, mainly social and relational, affect early childhood learning and development for populations experiencing marginalization. Having observed early childhood education in diverse settings in Hong Kong, the United States, and Mexico, I am especially interested in examining the contextual factors shaping children’s social interactions with the aim of creating a supportive environment for positive social interactions. In the future, I am interested in developing interventions focusing on co-constructed strategies for building capacity in children’s supporting networks through genuine partnerships with educators and parents.

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Graduate Student

Julie Segovia

Ph.D. Student (graduation expected 2023)
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Education
Ph.D. 2023, Tufts University, Child Study and Human Development
Adviser: Dr. Christine McWayne

M.S. 2016, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Adviser: Dr. Margaret Kjelgaard

B.A. 2010, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Major: English, Psychology

Research Interests
My research interests include the social, emotional, and academic development of foster care-involved children and youth and issues of social justice in the child welfare system. Included in this is a deep interest in interpretive research traditions as a tool for including the voices of current and former foster youth. As a former foster youth, I have experienced firsthand many of the foster care-specific barriers to post-secondary education, and care deeply about removing these barriers through innovative and equitable research, policy, and practice change.