Language, Experience, and Development (LEAD) Lab

Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova (she/her/hers) is a third-year doctoral student in Human Development and Quantitative Methodology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her combined Bachelor’s and Master’s in Psychology from Lomonosov Moscow State University and her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University. Before coming to UMD, she worked as a project coordinator of an NIH grant with Dr. Beatrice Beebe running mother-infant interaction visits at New York State Psychiatric Institute. Gavkhar also worked as a research assistant with Dr. Kimberly Noble (NEED lab) coding mother-child interaction videos for the Baby’s First Years study and with Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (Temple Infant & Child lab) assisting with various projects on playful learning. Under the mentorship of Dr. Rachel Romeo at the LEAD lab, Gavkhar is interested in examining how early language experiences, and the quality of early caregiver-child interactions specifically, shape children’s neurocognitive skills essential for their academic success. She hopes to use these findings to inform interventions on promoting optimal learning for children from diverse SES backgrounds. In her free time, Gavkhar enjoys going on long walks, reading and chatting with her family in NYC and overseas. She can be reached at ga2541@umd.edu. 

Victoria A. Terry (she/her/hers) is a fourth-year student in the Human Development doctoral program and the Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences certification program. She is primarily advised by Dr. Kelly Mix in the UMD Learning and Cognition lab, and co-advised by Dr. Romeo. Victoria is a first generation American of Caribbean descent. She grew up watching many of her peers discredit themselves from pursuing STEM fields within higher education. This has inspired her to find ways to build a bridge between socioeconomic status and academic achievement and to increase diversity within STEM fields. She is eager to explore the cognitive mechanisms involved in learning mathematics such as spatial reasoning and executive function, and to find creative ways to strengthen the cognitive skills necessary for academic success within mathematics. She is also interested in identifying ways the arts can be used to foster mathematical learning. In doing so, she hopes to enhance math learning and achievement especially among underrepresented populations. Victoria believes it is important to understand the neurological underpinnings and cognitive mechanisms involved in the aforementioned processes among diverse populations in order to better serve the next generation. Outside of academia, Victoria is a singer/songwriter, and loves to bake sweet treats with her friends. She can be reached at valexa@umd.edu. 

S. Alexa McDorman (they/them/theirs) is a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the Human Development program at the University of Maryland. Their research interests are focused on early childhood protective systems in families with low socioeconomic status. They work to parse out key positive and negative factors in young children's development, with the intent to inform strengths-based policy and intervention. Alexa is a first generation student who received their BS in Psychology from William & Mary. Before grad school, they obtained work experience implementing social policy for state agencies in West Virginia and Virginia as well as managing large educational data sets at the American Institutes for Research. Alexa has a grey tuxedoed feline named Mister who provides crucial support in the form of cuteness. They love to play games with friends, grow plants, and spend time with family, such as their THIRTEEN niblings between ages 1-14. They can be reached at samcdor@umd.edu. 

Ellen Roche (she/her/hers; they/them/theirs) is a third-year doctoral student in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science program at UMD College Park. She holds bachelors degrees in English and Music from University of Maryland and a Master’s in Education from Harvard University. Prior to joining the LEAD lab, Ellen worked for two years in the Early Learning Project lab with Dr. Rachel Barr at Georgetown University. At Georgetown, she primarily focused on a study of how infants built sensitive relationships with their socially-distant grandparents via Zoom during COVID-19. Ellen started her career as an educator, teaching Pre-K as well as middle and high school English/Language Arts, and most recently served as Executive Director of Trust for Learning, a philanthropic partnership working to support ideal learning environments for all children in publicly-funded programs, prenatal - eight. She also has eight years of experience as a researcher, writer, and strategist focused on progressive campaigns and candidates. Ellen hopes to advance antiracism and inclusion in scientific research, and is exploring the diverse ways children and families use language to support emotional development and regulation in the first few years of life. In her spare time, you might catch her singing, birding, or writing a sonnet. She can be reached at rochee@umd.edu. 

Ellie Taylor-Robinette (she/her/hers) is a first-year doctoral student in the Human Development program at the University of Maryland and the LEAD Lab's former inaugural Lab Manager & Community Partnerships Specialist. She is broadly interested in exploring how early contexts, experiences, and relationships impact infant and toddler neural and cognitive development, future wellness, and resilience. Ellie graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Arts in both Cognitive Science and Writing Seminars and a minor in Psychology and from Georgetown University with a Masters in Educational Transformation with a concentration in Advocacy & Policy. Ellie is deeply committed to community partnership and science communications efforts and seeks to increase the accessibility of involvement in and engagement with scientific research. She aims to pursue a career at the intersection of research and advocacy after pursuing further training at the graduate level. Outside of the lab, Ellie loves spending time with her rescue beabull, becoming a regular at local restaurants and coffee shops, and enjoying a healthy balance of time in the great outdoors and the great indoors. She can be reached at ektaylor@umd.edu. 

Eliza A. Thompson (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences and second-year doctoral student in the Department of Special Education jointly advised by Dr. Jade Wexler. She received her B.S. in Speech & Hearing Sciences from The George Washington University, her M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Howard University and an Ed.S from The George Washington University. Eliza also obtained an Advanced Certificate in Bilingual/Bicultural Education from Teacher's College, Columbia University. She has had a long standing interest in the processes of communication with a focus on child language development and emergent literacy intervention. As a clinician and clinical supervisor, Eliza has worked in a variety of settings including public schools, private practice and hospitals. She has also served as a clinical supervisor and therapist overseas, specifically, Ghana, Haiti and Kenya. Eliza has previously  worked as a speech-language pathologist for the Montgomery County Infants & Toddlers Program as well as an adjunct faculty member and clinical educator at other Washington, DC area universities.

Eliza teaches Clinical Practicum, Principles and Methods in Speech-language Pathology, and Speech and Language Development in Children. Her specific clinical interests include bilingual language development, communication in cultural and linguistically populations, and language/literacy intervention.

Eliza is also founder and director of the department's premiere study abroad program, HESP-GPS. Global Perspective in Service-Learning (GPS) is a clinical training program for HESP students who seek a greater understanding of communication sciences and disorders in an international context. She can be reached at ethomps2@umd.edu. 

Alicia Mortimer (she/her/hers) is the LEAD Lab's second Lab Manager. She is particularly interested in working collaboratively with families and educators to understand how different early experiences can impact neural and cognitive development, as well as the wellbeing of caregivers. Alicia completed her bachelor's in Psychology at the University of Bath in the UK. As part of her undergraduate degree, she worked at the Oxford University BabyLab, where she used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to track the development of executive functions from infancy, across toddlerhood, and into the preschool years. Alicia then worked on an early intervention which aims to better support preschool-aged children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, providing them with a firmer grounding in executive function and early educational (e.g., maths) skills. Alicia is very excited to further research how cognitive neuroscience can better support educational equity. Outside of the lab, she loves playing netball, reading, going to music gigs, and talking to her family back in London. She can be reached at aliciam@umd.edu

Alexus Ramirez (she/her/hers) is a postdoctoral research fellow under Dr. Rachel Romeo’s mentorship at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), funded by an NICHD NIH Diversity Supplement Award. She received her bachelor’s in psychology at the University of California, Merced, and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Delaware (UD). Broadly, Alexus is interested in researching how variation in children’s early language experiences relates to developmental outcomes. During her doctoral work at UD, she examined parents’ beliefs about using infant-directed speech, grandparent-grandchild interactions over video chat, and how discussing specific topics, such as math, animals, or colors, during toddlerhood relate to children’s school readiness with Dr. Roberta Golinkoff (Child’s Play Lab). At UMD, Alexus will investigate how children’s home environments and parents’ beliefs about language learning relate to how parents talk with children, and in turn, children’s development of language, executive function, and social cognition in monolingual and bilingual families. At leisure, she loves hiking, reading, and playing soccer. She can be reached at alexusgr@umd.edu. 

Mariah Egerton (she/her/hers) received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience (Cellular and Molecular Track) from the University of Maryland, College Park in May of 2023. She is interested in learning about how parenting styles and tools promote healthy brain development, specifically in the context of disability. She is very passionate about contributing to research that seeks to establish equity and empowerment for children with disabilities. She also works at the Maryland Neuroimaging Center as an MR Technologist where the LEAD Lab conducts their MRI visits. In her free time, she loves spending time with her adorable younger sister, exercising, and cooking! Mariah also served as the lab's interim lab manager during summer 2024. She can be reached at megerton@umd.edu. 

 

Eusabia Mont is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is the director of the Cultural-Linguistic Diversity Emphasis Program for the MA in Speech and Language Pathology, and she leads the Mentorship Network. Her specific clinical interests include communication across the lifespan, emphasizing language development in children and dementia-related communication disorders. She is also interested in infusing diverse perspectives into course design and culturally responsive service delivery to reduce health disparities. Ms. Mont consults with the LEAD lab on the PLANES study (and others) on the ethical and appropriate assessment and analysis of language development in children from racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse backgrounds, as well as culturally sensitive dissemination of findings to avoid biased and discriminatory findings for children from minoritized communities.  

Telise Arce-Reed (she/her/hers) is a senior Human Development and Criminology & Criminal Justice double degree at the University of Maryland. Within the LEAD Lab, she is interested in exploring adverse socioeconomic conditions that affect learning and development in children. As a first-generation college student of Honduran and African American descent, Telise has acknowledged the disparities among minority groups in the justice system. Therefore, she has found a personal passion in connecting educational equity to the implementation of early crime prevention programs. Outside of the lab, Telise loves anything, tattoos, piercings, and dying her hair. She also loves spending time with her friends, going to concerts, taking pictures, or watching any kind of cooking show competitions. 
 

Chloe Cartwright (she/her/hers) is a sophomore Psychology major and in the future she plans to pursue a career in Psychiatry. Her research interests in the lab are the way in which particular adverse experiences can affect cognition, development, and future outcomes in children. Outside of the lab, she can be found running, reading, cooking vegan food, attending concerts, and crafting the perfect latte as a barista. 

Alex Haralanova (she/her/hers; they/them/theirs) is a senior Neuroscience major and Human Development minor at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a first generation American of Bulgarian descent. Her main interest in the lab is developmental psychology and cognitive development of children, but she would also like to explore the connection between parenting styles and mental health later in life. Most of her childhood and teenage years, Alex has been babysitting and working with kids, inspiring her to gain a deeper understanding on how childhood experiences affect individuals. She hopes to increase individuals’ chance of success through research generating insight on how to help kids with different backgrounds and experiences in school. Outside of the lab, she can usually be found painting, hiking, journaling, or working for the Grey Matters Neuroscience Journal.
 

Navleen Kaur (she/her/hers) is a senior Neuroscience major with a focus on cellular, molecular, and physiological neuroscience. In the future, she plans to pursue a career in medicine. Navleen has a keen interest in how early childhood development is affected by multilingualism and multiculturalism, stemming from her own experiences growing up as a Punjabi American. Beyond the scope of the LEAD lab, she loves to take care of her mind and body, whether it be through the form of a traditional Indian dance called "bhangra", volleyball, or self-care (her skincare collection is quite extensive).  

 

Paola Rojas (she/her/hers) is a sophomore neuroscience major and human development and general business double minor at the University of Maryland, College Park. As a first-generation college student of Bolivian descent, she has always been enthralled by the minds of young children and exploring how adverse environments can alter the development of areas key to certain functions–notably, language development. Following her fascination for almost seven years, Paola has been thoroughly involved with the Montgomery County educational system. From volunteering as a teacher assistant at Title I elementary schools to facilitating French conversations at a French immersion school, her passion for working with children has been unwavering. Now at the LEAD Lab, she hopes to get her feet wet in the fruitful research process, while also addressing the opportunity gap in education. Outside of the lab, Paola enjoys baking, doing arts & crafts, playing badminton, trying new boba flavors, and playing Nintendo games.

Fatou Sall (she/her/hers) is a senior Neurobiology and Physiology major on the pre-med track and business minor at UMD. Her research interests include studying the development of multilingual children as she grew up as a first-generation American to Senegalese parents. Her experience growing up has driven her to study how children are affected by two polar environments: home vs. the outside world. Outside the lab, Fatou loves to dance and is a part of a dance team on campus, loves to listen to music, and is fascinated by the outdoors and nature (she is a very happy plant mom). 

 

Abria Simmons (she/her/hers) is a senior studying Psychology. Abria is interested in exploring how anti-bias and antiracism approaches can positively affect children’s development in the long run. Outside of lab, Abria enjoys reading, crocheting, and playing video games. In addition to working as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, Abria is also the lab's Hair Equity Specialist.

VIP = "Very Important Pets"

Shae Romeo came to the LEAD lab as a rescue in Dr. Romeo's first year of graduate school. She recently completed her doctorate in knocking items off desks with a certificate in sitting on keyboards. Once she even shut down an international zoom presentation by leaping straight into a computer monitor. She is currently learning how to fetch, but struggles with the "bring it back" part. She instantly loves everyone who has the potential to feed her and enjoys copious naps in inopportune places.

Maya Romeo was also adopted into the LEAD lab during Dr. Romeo's first year of graduate school. She had a difficult early life on the mean streets of Boston, but she is the picture of resilience to adversity. Maya is currently working on her masters' degree in squeezing into impossibly small spaces, and has developed a remarkable new method of transforming herself into an aqueous state to slide under furniture with only inches of space underneath. Maya makes you earn her love, but once you're in her inner circle, it is incredibly rewarding. 

Mister McDorman was adopted from City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue at the beginning of Alexa's first year in graduate school. She wears a fancy grey tuxedo and loves cuddling, playing, looking out windows, and generally lurking. She's shy of strangers, but adores her humans and prefers that they remain with her at all times.

Bonita Taylor-Robinette is a rescue Beagle/English Bulldog mix. As a nine-year-old beabull, Bonita is entering her golden years, and she knows exactly what she likes: Whimzees brand dental chews, long naps, walks through the snow, and lots of snuggles. Long before she was rescued by her current family, Bonita was named after A Tribe Called Quest’s 1999 hit “Bonita Applebum,” so her parents joke that her full name is Bonita “Gordita” Rosalinda Applebum Taylor-Robinette. Bonita is honored to be considered a VIP researcher.
 

Oso Happy A. Terry is a rescue Labrador Retriever/American Staffordshire Terrier mix. He is learning a lot about the world still as a puppy, but he is very curious and eager to climb up the academic ladder. He’s probably the first dog you’ll meet with a middle name, but if you met him you’d understand exactly why “Happy” had to be included! His favorite thing to do is go to a drive though because he gets to observe new people and discover new smells. This VIP researcher takes his job seriously to motivate his human by snuggling up to her whenever she’s doing her work.

Rigatoni Ramirez was adopted at the beginning of Dr. Ramirez’s postdoc. He takes pleasure in laying on the warmth of keyboards, napping all day, and zooming all night. Observing his water fountain brings Rigatoni immense joy and is his preferred pastime. Although initially timid, Rigatoni will show his affection through cuddles and making biscuits.
 

Zeus Madanat was also adopted at the beginning of Dr. Ramirez’s postdoc. He is actively pursuing his passion as a parkour enthusiast. Zeus finds delight in climbing on shoulders, chasing his tail, playing hide-and-go-seek, and pouncing on springy toys. Zeus is a sociable lad who warmly welcomes everyone he meets with gentle rubs and joyful purring.

 

Storm Sall is a silly cat who loves to climb and jumpscare people! His favorite foods are tuna, salmon, and shoelaces!

Hudson Mortimer is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who is back in Alicia’s hometown of London. Despite almost being 10 years old, Hudson still acts like a puppy and likes to be included in all of his family’s activities. His favourite thing in the world is going to the beach despite being scared of the water and an awful swimmer.

Cali Arce-Reed is a rescue chihuahua and rat terrier mix. She’s originally from Florida so she loves to sleep all day by the window where the sun hits her and she hates the snow or any kind of cold. She loves to cuddle and just chill all day, but one thing she loves more than sleeping is food. 

Ama Arhin (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant (2022-2023) 
Amy Carolus (she/her/hers), Research Assistant/Research Affiliate (2020-2023)
Ananya Devadiga (she/her/hers), Human Development Internship Student (2021-2022) 
Ben Rickles (he/him/his), Research Affiliate (2022-2023)
Jun Ikeda (any pronouns), Undergraduate Research Assistant (2022-2023) 
Christina Kim (she/her/hers), Visiting PhD Student (Summer 2023)
Grace Kim (she/her/hers), HGSE Masters Student (2021-2022)
Klaudia Kulawska (she/her/hers), Research Assistant/Research Affiliate (2020-2022)
Nicole Ostria (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant (2023-2024)
Madeleine Pham (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant (Summer 2024) 
Daniel Pyo (he/him/his), Human Development Internship Student (2021-2022) 
Fatimaria Rosales-Lima (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant (2023-2024) 
Amanda Rosenberg (she/her/hers), Research Assistant/Research Affiliate (2020-2023)
Vanessa Schor Guerrero (she/her/hers), Visiting BSOS SRI Student (Summer 2024) 
Natalie Sharbin (she/her/hers), Undergraduate Research Assistant (2022-2023)
Casey Spelman (she/her/hers), Visiting PhD Student (Summer 2023)