Stephanie M. Carlson, PhD
Professor and Director of Research, Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota
Stephanie M. Carlson, PhD, is professor and director of research at the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota. She is a developmental psychologist and an internationally recognized leader in the study of executive functioning.
Carlson has developed innovative ways to study and measure executive functioning skills in very young children. She’s made groundbreaking discoveries about the role of these skills in human development. She is also the co-founder of Reflection Sciences, Inc., which is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of the field.
Her current research focuses on how to promote executive functioning skills in kids. She looks at the impact of things like exercise, nutrition, sleep, caregiving, and teaching practices. Supporters of her research have included the National Institutes of Health, the Institute of Education Sciences, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Character Lab.
