Our Team

Celebrating our seniors in Spring 2023

a group of people in a grassy field

Director

Dr. Cristina D. Zepeda

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Human Development

Research Interests: Dr. Zepeda’s research examines how students navigate their learning and pinpoints ways to improve their learning experiences. Using self-regulated learning theories as a guide, she focuses on how to support students use of metacognition (e.g., monitoring and controlling one’s thoughts) and cognitive learning strategies (e.g., retrieval practice, self-explanation) as well as ways to help them adopt beneficial motivational beliefs, values, and goals (e.g., achievement goals, self-efficacy, utility values). In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and working on projects around the house.

CV || GoogleScholar || Website || Email

Graduate Students

Sarah Shaw

M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin – Madison
B.S. in Recreation, Indiana University – Bloomington

Sarah Shaw is a PhD student in Psychological Sciences and is interested in math identity development, education technology, and girls in STEM. Prior to coming to Vanderbilt, she founded and led an ed tech nonprofit that helped students build strong career identities. She holds an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in Recreation from Indiana University. Beyond academics, you can find Sarah getting lost in a good book, playing pretend with her daughter, or going on outdoor adventures with her family and two huskies.

Xinran (Wendy) Wang

M.S. in Cognitive Psychology in Context, Vanderbilt University
B.A. in Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles

Xinran (Wendy) Wang is a PhD student in Psychological Science. 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.

Collaborating Graduate Students

Rebecca Adler

M.S. in Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University
B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science, Northwestern University
Rebecca is a fourth year PhD student in Psychological Sciences, primarily advised by Dr. Bethany Rittle-Johnson. She graduated from Northwestern University in 2018 with a B.A. in psychology and cognitive science. After graduation, she worked under Dr. Nora Newcombe at Temple University. She is interested in mathematical problem solving, motivation, and metacognition. She is working on her dissertation focused on students’ self-regulated studying in mathematics, which is in part, a collaboration with Dr. Zepeda and the ALL. She hopes to start a postdoc in Fall 2025. Outside of the lab, Rebecca enjoys playing volleyball, solving puzzles, and cooking.

CV || GoogleScholar || Email

Masters Student

MacClaine Greene

B.S. in Psychology, Cumberland University
MacClaine Greene is a first-year master’s student in the Cognitive Psychology in Context program at Vanderbilt University. Her research interests include the study of metacognitive ability and its related interplay with learner autonomy. She is thrilled to be a member of the Advancing Learning Lab, and excitedly anticipates exploring more about implementing the use of metacognition and cognitive learning strategies to promote academic success. Beyond academics, MacClaine enjoys listening to and playing music, reading a good book, exploring nature, and practicing yoga.

Serena Luo

B.A. in Psychology, University of Rochester, minor in Brain and cognitive science
Serena Luo is a second-year master’s student in the cognitive psychology in context master’s program at Vanderbilt University. Her research interest will be the multifaceted interplay between metacognition, learning processes, and emotions. Her current project is exploring the contextual factors the contribute to why students engage in cramming behaviors before an exam. She is super excited to be a member of the Advancing Learning lab.

Yucheng Bao

B.A. in Social Science, Minor in Economics, New York University Shanghai
Yucheng Bao is a first-year master’s student in the cognitive psychology in context master’s program at Vanderbilt University. With a background in developmental psychology, he has also developed a strong interest in educational and cognitive psychology. His research interest focuses on metacognition and motivation within learning processes, as well as interventions that promote students’ self-regulated learning. He is also passionate about understanding how study strategies can improve students’ learning outcomes and help students take more active roles in their learning journeys. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and exploring nature and cities.

Lab Manager

Kaicheng (Josh) Zhang

B.A. in Education and Pedagogy, Zhejiang University
Kaicheng (Josh) Zhang is a second-year master’s student in the Quantitative Methods program at Vanderbilt University. His research interests focus on students’ STEM motivation in classroom settings, as well as parent-child interaction in informal learning settings. He is so excited to be a part of the Advancing Learning Lab and make more explorations of human’s learning process.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Gauri Agarwal

Gauri Agarwal is a sophomore with a keen interest in Psychology and Neuroscience, particularly biopsychology and mental/cognitive disorders. She hopes to pursue one of the fields as a career and is very excited to continue her journey at ALL. She is also involved in the Vanderbilt Hustler and is a part of International Student Council on campus. In her free time, Gauri likes to dance, listen to K-pop, and play with her pet!

Ishita Sujan

Ishita Sujan is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University studying Secondary Education, Computer Science, and Mathematics with a minor in Data Science. She hopes to pursue a career in the EdTech field with a strong interest in ways that students learn, leading her to join the Advanced Learning Lab. Outside the lab, you can find her involved with VU Lakshya (a Bollywood Fusion dance team), the American Sign Language club and Kappa Theta Pi (Vanderbilt’s Technology Fraternity).

Isa Dominguez

Isa is a junior at Vanderbilt University majoring in Computer Science, Cognitive Studies, and Applied Math with a minor in Data Science. She is passionate about education technology and is excited to expand her knowledge by exploring the psychology behind these technologies. She has previous research in the Learning in Virtual Environments Lab (led by Dr. Daniel Levin) and is excited to apply that experience to the Advancing Learning Lab. Outside of school, she loves to journal, read, and explore Nashville!

Jie (Joey) Cang

Joey is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University majoring in Cognitive Studies and Child Development with a minor in Data Science. Her previous work in student learning and her own educational experiences have established her interest in educational equity promotion. She hopes to pursue a career with NGOs that focus on enhancing educational opportunities and resources. Being part of the Advancing Learning Lab would provide her with a great opportunity to deepen her understanding of academic research and further explore ways to improve student learning.

Keanani Afu

Keanani is a junior at Vanderbilt University majoring in Psychology and Child Development with a minor in Chinese. Her interest and beliefs in the equity and accessibility of education as well as her interest in developmental psychology led her to join the Advancing Learning Lab. In the future, she wants to go to graduate school and pursue a career that applies psychological principles to guide, support, and empower youth. Keanani is very grateful and excited to be in the ALL lab.

Mae Monette

Mae is a senior at Vanderbilt University double majoring in Psychology and Asian Studies, with a minor in Data Science. She was initially interested to pursue research in student learning due to her experiences as an art teacher for elementary school children and as a learning assistant for Vanderbilt’s Psychology department. Through working in the lab, she has become especially passionate about understanding the nuances of how students report using motivational regulation strategies when studying for exams. She loves working with the other lab members and is so excited to continue exploring the various aspects of student learning!

Madison Peroutka

Madison is a junior at Vanderbilt University and is majoring in Child Development and Medicine, Health, and Society. When she is not doing her own schoolwork, you’ll probably find her helping any of her five younger siblings complete theirs! Her personal interest in study methods led her to join the Advanced Learning Lab. She has a passion for developmental psychology and is excited to explore its impact on students’ learning. Madison is very grateful to be a part of this lab!

Morrigan B Dunlap-Loomis

Morrigan is a senior at Vanderbilt University double majoring in Medicine, Health, & Society and Psychology. She is passionate about pediatric and adolescent mental and physical health. Her work in Advancing Learning Lab for the past three years has allowed her to channel this passion into studying the effective tools and processes students, teachers, and schools can utilize to produce a positive and successful learning environment. Her work in this lab has inspired her to continue her educational career in a graduate nursing program, specializing in pediatric mental health and its impact on physical health. She looks forward to continuing her work on metacognition and study strategies as well as partnering with the Vanderbilt math department to study the implementation of metacognitive learning and studying.

Sofia Manuel

Sofia Manuel is a senior at Vanderbilt University majoring in Cognitive Studies, with a keen focus on how cognitive science principles can be applied to enhance human performance, particularly in sports. Her work with a professional baseball team has provided her with valuable experience in data science, allowing her to explore the intersection of cognitive strategies and athletic achievement. Passionate about sports, Sofia aims to leverage her academic background to pursue a career in sports psychology, with plans to continue her education in graduate school. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, running, playing golf, wakesurfing, listening to health and wellness podcasts, and spending time with her family.

Faculty Collaborators

Dr. Cynthia Brame
Assistant Professor of the Practice of Biological Sciences
Vanderbilt University

Dr. Andy Butler
Associate Professor of Education and Psychological and Brain Sciences
Washington University in St. Louis

Dr. Thomas Clements
Senior Lecturer of Biological Sciences
Vanderbilt University

Dr. Kelley Durkin
Research Assistant Professor of Teaching and Learning
Vanderbilt University

Dr. Heather Johnson
Associate Professor of the Practice of Science Education
Director of Secondary Education, Department of Teaching and Learning
Vanderbilt University

Dr. Yeo-eun Kim
Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology
Florida State University

Dr. Tim Nokes-Malach
Professor of Psychology and Learning Sciences and Policy
Senior Scientist, Learning Research & Development Center
University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Bethany Rittle-Johnson
Professor of Psychology and Human Development
Vanderbilt University

Dr. Chris Rozek
Assistant Professor of Education and Psychological and Brain Sciences
Washington University in St. Louis

Advancing Learning Lab