Current Students and Fellows
Our lab consists of researchers and postdoctoral fellows as well as doctoral and masters’ students who are dedicated to understanding factors that impact the language and school readiness of young children from diverse background, developing assessments for bilingual children, and developing and testing home- and school-based interventions that improve children’s language and literacy development.
Linye Jing, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Developing Language and Literacy Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her Ph.D. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University. Linye's research focuses on bilingual language development and disorders, specifically in the area of syntactic complexity. As a language researcher and a mother of two bilingual children, she is actively involved in community outreach activities that support bilingual children’s language development, educate caregivers and teachers about language disorders and advocate for bilinguals’ rights to communicate in the languages they prefer.
Linye Jing, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Developing Language and Literacy Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University. She completed her Ph.D. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University. Linye's research focuses on bilingual language development and disorders, specifically in the area of syntactic complexity. As a language researcher and a mother of two bilingual children, she is actively involved in community outreach activities that support bilingual children’s language development, educate caregivers and teachers about language disorders and advocate for bilinguals’ rights to communicate in the languages they prefer.
Joanna is a doctoral student working with Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. Her research interests include language and literacy development in Spanish-English dual language learners (DLLs) including cultural and environmental factors that contribute to school readiness. Joanna is also interested in classroom practices that help support DLLs academic success.
Joanna is a doctoral student working with Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. Her research interests include language and literacy development in Spanish-English dual language learners (DLLs) including cultural and environmental factors that contribute to school readiness. Joanna is also interested in classroom practices that help support DLLs academic success.
Julie Smith is a doctoral student under Dr. Carol Scheffner-Hammer. Her research interests include oral language and early literacy development in young Spanish-English speaking dual language learners (DLL). Specifically, her studies focus on the home and classroom language practices that promote bilingual development during preschool and early elementary years (ages 3-8).
Julie Smith is a doctoral student under Dr. Carol Scheffner-Hammer. Her research interests include oral language and early literacy development in young Spanish-English speaking dual language learners (DLL). Specifically, her studies focus on the home and classroom language practices that promote bilingual development during preschool and early elementary years (ages 3-8).
Christine Vail is a doctoral student under Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. Her research interests include monolingual and bilingual child language acquisition, cultural and environmental influences on language development, and best-practice early language and literacy intervention.
Christine Vail is a doctoral student under Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. Her research interests include monolingual and bilingual child language acquisition, cultural and environmental influences on language development, and best-practice early language and literacy intervention.
Research Scientists & Assistants
Tatiana Ransom is a master’s student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Teachers College and a research assistant in the Developing Language and Literacy Lab. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Special Education at East Tennessee State University. Her research interests include second language acquisition and language and literacy development in children with severe disabilities. Tatiana is also interested in family and person centered care.
Tatiana Ransom is a master’s student in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Teachers College and a research assistant in the Developing Language and Literacy Lab. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Special Education at East Tennessee State University. Her research interests include second language acquisition and language and literacy development in children with severe disabilities. Tatiana is also interested in family and person centered care.
Alumni
Dr. Dana Bitetti was a doctoral student in the DLL Lab. She is an assistant professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at La Salle University. Her research centers on promoting positive academic outcomes for children with language disorders and preschool-age dual-language learners (DLLs). Dr. Bitetti is also certified speech-language pathologist whose clinical specialties include assessment and intervention for children with language-based learning difficulties and providing speech and language therapy within the classroom setting.
Dr. Dana Bitetti was a doctoral student in the DLL Lab. She is an assistant professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at La Salle University. Her research centers on promoting positive academic outcomes for children with language disorders and preschool-age dual-language learners (DLLs). Dr. Bitetti is also certified speech-language pathologist whose clinical specialties include assessment and intervention for children with language-based learning difficulties and providing speech and language therapy within the classroom setting.
Dr. Lauren M. Cycyk was a doctoral student mentored by Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Communication Disorders and Sciences program at the University of Oregon, where she manages the Early Dual Language Development Lab. Lauren's research focuses on the early Spanish-English dual language development of children from Latino backgrounds and caregiver-centered language interventions that facilitate positive communication and early educational outcomes for this population.
Dr. Lauren M. Cycyk was a doctoral student mentored by Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Communication Disorders and Sciences program at the University of Oregon, where she manages the Early Dual Language Development Lab. Lauren's research focuses on the early Spanish-English dual language development of children from Latino backgrounds and caregiver-centered language interventions that facilitate positive communication and early educational outcomes for this population.
Dr. Kandia Lewis was a post-doctoral fellow at the DLL lab. She is currently a Research Scientist at Nemours BrightStart! Her primary area of research focuses on young bilingual children’s language and literacy development. She is also interested in empirically validating language and literacy programming and evaluating the psychometric properties of measures using mixed methods design.
Dr. Kandia Lewis was a post-doctoral fellow at the DLL lab. She is currently a Research Scientist at Nemours BrightStart! Her primary area of research focuses on young bilingual children’s language and literacy development. She is also interested in empirically validating language and literacy programming and evaluating the psychometric properties of measures using mixed methods design.
Dr. Lia Sandilos was a postdoctoral research fellow in the DLL Lab. She is currently an Institute of Education Sciences postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) at the University of Virginia. Lia’s current research focuses on the classroom environment and the provision of high quality instruction to young children, particularly those who are of low socioeconomic and culturally/racially diverse backgrounds. Her other research interests include understanding and improving the emotional well-being of early childhood teachers and examining the psychometric properties of measures used in early childhood and elementary settings.
Dr. Lia Sandilos was a postdoctoral research fellow in the DLL Lab. She is currently an Institute of Education Sciences postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) at the University of Virginia. Lia’s current research focuses on the classroom environment and the provision of high quality instruction to young children, particularly those who are of low socioeconomic and culturally/racially diverse backgrounds. Her other research interests include understanding and improving the emotional well-being of early childhood teachers and examining the psychometric properties of measures used in early childhood and elementary settings.
Dr. Brook Sawyer worked as a Research Scientist at the DLL Lab before assuming her role as Assistant Professor in the Department of Education and Human Services at Lehigh University. Her research is interdisciplinary and centers on promoting the development of young children, with a predominant focus on language and literacy development. Through research devoted to better understanding the current practices of early childhood educators and parents as well as developing interventions to enhance these practices, Sawyer aims to support young children who are vulnerable for less than optimal school achievement, including children with disabilities, dual language learners, and children who live in poverty.
Dr. Brook Sawyer worked as a Research Scientist at the DLL Lab before assuming her role as Assistant Professor in the Department of Education and Human Services at Lehigh University. Her research is interdisciplinary and centers on promoting the development of young children, with a predominant focus on language and literacy development. Through research devoted to better understanding the current practices of early childhood educators and parents as well as developing interventions to enhance these practices, Sawyer aims to support young children who are vulnerable for less than optimal school achievement, including children with disabilities, dual language learners, and children who live in poverty.
Dr. Shelley Scarpino worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the DLL Lab. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Bloomsberg University.
Dr. Shelley Scarpino worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the DLL Lab. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Bloomsberg University.
Dr. Jessica Willard was a visiting PhD student from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. She recently completed her PhD on the language development of bilingual children from immigrant families who were living in Germany. Currently, she is working on a project that evaluates the effectiveness of preschool language education in a German federal state (SEIKA-NRW).
Dr. Jessica Willard was a visiting PhD student from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum. She recently completed her PhD on the language development of bilingual children from immigrant families who were living in Germany. Currently, she is working on a project that evaluates the effectiveness of preschool language education in a German federal state (SEIKA-NRW).
Dr. Maria Cristina (Cricket) Limlingan was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Classroom Intervention at the DLL Lab. Dr. Limlingan worked on several projects related to supporting teachers who work with DLLs, including Estrellas and ExCELL-e research projects. Cricket received her Ph.D. in Child Development from Tufts University in 2016, supervised by Dr. Christine McWayne. Her dissertation examined the relations between teacher-child interactions, classroom context and Latino dual language learners’ school readiness. Her research interests, broadly defined, focus on improving the quality of educational experiences for linguistically and ethnically diverse young children in the United States and in low- and middle-income countries. She is particularly interested in the environmental and cultural influences on immigrant children’s experiences and interventions that may improve their school readiness outcomes.
Dr. Maria Cristina (Cricket) Limlingan was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Classroom Intervention at the DLL Lab. Dr. Limlingan worked on several projects related to supporting teachers who work with DLLs, including Estrellas and ExCELL-e research projects. Cricket received her Ph.D. in Child Development from Tufts University in 2016, supervised by Dr. Christine McWayne. Her dissertation examined the relations between teacher-child interactions, classroom context and Latino dual language learners’ school readiness. Her research interests, broadly defined, focus on improving the quality of educational experiences for linguistically and ethnically diverse young children in the United States and in low- and middle-income countries. She is particularly interested in the environmental and cultural influences on immigrant children’s experiences and interventions that may improve their school readiness outcomes.
Dr. Kelly Escobar was a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. Dr. Escobar lead the Exceptional Coaching for Early Language and Literacy (ExCELL) intervention project, which provides high-quality, evidence-based coaching and professional development to preschool teaching teams and educates teachers on strategies to support children’s language and literacy skills, particularly for dual-language learners. Dr. Escobar received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from New York University in 2019 under the mentorship of Dr. Gigliana Melzi and Dr. Catherine Tamis-LeMonda. Her dissertation investigated the contextual factors that shape Latino children’s home learning environments from infancy to age two years, focusing on how fathers, siblings, and other family members contribute to children’s language environments. Dr. Escobar’s primary research interests include bilingual language development within culture and context, and bridging the gap between research and education policy.
Dr. Kelly Escobar was a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. Dr. Escobar lead the Exceptional Coaching for Early Language and Literacy (ExCELL) intervention project, which provides high-quality, evidence-based coaching and professional development to preschool teaching teams and educates teachers on strategies to support children’s language and literacy skills, particularly for dual-language learners. Dr. Escobar received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from New York University in 2019 under the mentorship of Dr. Gigliana Melzi and Dr. Catherine Tamis-LeMonda. Her dissertation investigated the contextual factors that shape Latino children’s home learning environments from infancy to age two years, focusing on how fathers, siblings, and other family members contribute to children’s language environments. Dr. Escobar’s primary research interests include bilingual language development within culture and context, and bridging the gap between research and education policy.
Dr. Bethany Keffala was a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. Dr. Keffala worked on the Bilingual Assessment of Phonological Sensitivity (BAPS) project, which aims to develop a comprehensive assessment of phonological sensitivity in 3-5-year-old Spanish-English bilingual children. Dr. Keffala received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego in 2016, supervised by Dr. Sharon Rose and Dr. Jessica Barlow (San Diego State University). Her dissertation investigated how linguistic complexity and distributional statistics influence cross-language interaction in Spanish-English bilingual children's acquisition of syllable structure and positional phonotactics. Dr. Keffala's primary research interests include multilingualism, child language acquisition, phonology, and literacy development. In addition to her work on the BAPS, Dr. Keffala's research in collaboration with Dr. Hammer investigated phonological acquisition in Spanish-English bilingual children, and factors that influence language and literacy development in this population.
Dr. Bethany Keffala was a Postdoctoral Researcher working with Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer. Dr. Keffala worked on the Bilingual Assessment of Phonological Sensitivity (BAPS) project, which aims to develop a comprehensive assessment of phonological sensitivity in 3-5-year-old Spanish-English bilingual children. Dr. Keffala received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego in 2016, supervised by Dr. Sharon Rose and Dr. Jessica Barlow (San Diego State University). Her dissertation investigated how linguistic complexity and distributional statistics influence cross-language interaction in Spanish-English bilingual children's acquisition of syllable structure and positional phonotactics. Dr. Keffala's primary research interests include multilingualism, child language acquisition, phonology, and literacy development. In addition to her work on the BAPS, Dr. Keffala's research in collaboration with Dr. Hammer investigated phonological acquisition in Spanish-English bilingual children, and factors that influence language and literacy development in this population.
Katya Mehta was a Junior Research Scientist in the Developing Language and Literacy Lab. She worked on a variety of projects in the lab including BAPS, ExCELL, Parents Plus, and BIPA. Katya received her master’s in Cognitive Science and Language at the University of Barcelona where she was supervised by Dr. Luca Bonatti at Pompeu Fabra University. Her primary research interests are bilingualism and cognition, early literacy development, and language acquisition, as well as the role of play and its effect on these and other key areas of children’s development.
Katya Mehta was a Junior Research Scientist in the Developing Language and Literacy Lab. She worked on a variety of projects in the lab including BAPS, ExCELL, Parents Plus, and BIPA. Katya received her master’s in Cognitive Science and Language at the University of Barcelona where she was supervised by Dr. Luca Bonatti at Pompeu Fabra University. Her primary research interests are bilingualism and cognition, early literacy development, and language acquisition, as well as the role of play and its effect on these and other key areas of children’s development.
A former high school French and English teacher, Curran completed her master's in Cognitive Science in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2023. After working in digital marketing, she returned to the field of PK-12 education and applied her communication skills to the field of family engagement. She has designed parent-facing informational materials at Oakland Unified School District and worked in marketing, sales, and customer success at family engagement company ParentPowered (Ready4K). Curran used her varied business communications experience to help scale up the ExCELL professional development program to reach more teachers and students across the country. She believes in valuing children’s linguistic backgrounds as assets rather than deficits, and has a passion for enabling educators to apply insights from research in their practice.
A former high school French and English teacher, Curran completed her master's in Cognitive Science in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2023. After working in digital marketing, she returned to the field of PK-12 education and applied her communication skills to the field of family engagement. She has designed parent-facing informational materials at Oakland Unified School District and worked in marketing, sales, and customer success at family engagement company ParentPowered (Ready4K). Curran used her varied business communications experience to help scale up the ExCELL professional development program to reach more teachers and students across the country. She believes in valuing children’s linguistic backgrounds as assets rather than deficits, and has a passion for enabling educators to apply insights from research in their practice.