Lab Director
Terri J. Sabol is Assistant Professor in Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on the individual and environmental factors that lead to healthy child development, with a particular emphasis on schools and families. She applies developmental theory, psychological measurement and advanced quantitative methods to pressing social policy issues that affect low-income children and families. In particular, she focuses on two key policy areas: (1) improving early childhood education; and (2) increasing families’ human capital, including parent education, employment, and income. CV
Research Staff
Arthur Raines (he/him) is a Research Data Analyst Associate at the Early Childhood Research Alliance of Chicago (EC-REACH). Arthur graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Public Policy. He is interested in better understanding the causes of economic growth and development and the role education plays in that development, particularly early childhood education. Before joining the EC-REACH team, Arthur was a junior municipal bonds analyst at Nuveen, a TIAA Company, where he worked on producing credit reports for Private Higher Education and General Obligation bonds.
Julia Honoroff (she/hers) is a doctoral student in Human Development and Social policy. Julia is interested in addressing issues of access and equity in early childhood and family policy. With a strong focus on developmental science and social policy analysis, Julia seeks to address questions related to how the early care and education space can contribute to the larger ecosystem of family support systems, and can better address individual and community needs to improve health, human capital, and overall family well-being. Before joining Northwestern, Julia was a Junior Research Scientist at New York University where she worked on projects related to the city’s Pre-K for All Initiative and a large-scale RCT testing a school readiness program integrated into pediatric primary care. Julia received her B.A. in Psychology from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Kathryn Gonzalez (she/hers) is a researcher at Mathematica where her work focuses on efforts to improve early care and education access and quality and to support the early childhood workforce. Kathryn has expertise in early childhood policy and program evaluation, and is interested in understanding the outcomes of policies and programs at federal, state, and local levels. Her work also focuses on the development of new measures for early childhood researchers and practitioners. Kathryn received her Ph.D. in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Lauren Kearns (she/hers) is a Program Coordinator at EC-REACH. Prior to joining EC-REACH, she worked at a Chicago nonprofit providing education services designed to help newly arrived refugee children catch up on years of missed schooling, an experience which deepened her passion for addressing inequities in educational access. Lauren holds a BA in International Relations and English from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and she is currently pursuing an M.S. in Higher Education Administration and Policy at Northwestern. Her experiences of providing direct service in the Chicago education landscape now guide her passion for research-oriented solutions for the city’s education policies.
Melanie Muskin (she/hers) is a doctoral student in Human Development and Social Policy. Melanie is interested in advancing professional dignity for early childhood educators nationwide. As a scholar-practitioner, Melanie draws on her experience working with children ages 0-8 as an educator and center director. Before joining Northwestern, Melanie was a teacher and school leader for over a decade in New York City. Melanie received her M.A. in Organization and Leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University and her B.A. in Cognitive Science from Vassar College.
Sophie Dara (she/hers) is a Research Data Analyst at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. In this role, she conducts qualitative data collection and analysis to better understand the rollout of Chicago’s Universal Pre-K System. Sophie is interested in examining how education and poverty-alleviation policies can impact the social and economic mobility of communities. Previously, Sophie has worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Michigan’s Education Policy Initiative and an Intern at the National Women’s Law Center. Sophie holds a BA in Public Policy from the University of Michigan’s Ford School. .
Sosthène Guei (he/him) is a PhD student in Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern University. His interest lies at the intersection of home and school environments, focusing on how they influence each other and their cumulative effects on children’s literacy outcome. Based on the aforementioned, he is also interested in the policy implications for designing contextually appropriate and effective interventions that address the unique needs of children in resource-limited settings. Prior to his doctoral studies, Sosthene held positions as Research Manager within non-profit organizations and advisory firms operating in Africa for the implementation of programs spanning areas of child development, education, child labor and gender issues. Sosthene received his Master’s Degree in Child Development from in the University of Haifa in Israel.
Tianshi Wang (he/him) is a research study coordinator senior on the universal pre-kindergarten project. Tianshi is interested in labor economics study, with a particular focus on intergenerational mobility, immigration, and neighborhood effects. Before starting this position, Tianshi worked as an undergraduate research assistant on several projects, which are about company mergers and ultra-poor graduation programs. Tianshi received his B.A. in Economics and Mathematics and M.A. in Economics from Northwestern University.
Zina Noel (she/they) is a doctoral student in human development and social policy. Zina is interested in policy around maternal and infant well-being and early care and education, focusing on maternal support systems, culturally responsive and community-based practices, and workforce development. Previously, Zina has worked as an early childhood educator and in research, policy, and strategy development for education and early childhood initiatives in the US and abroad. Zina has a master’s in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education in International Education Policy and a post-bac certificate from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs in Early Childhood Policy.
Research Assistants
Evie Valadez is a Master’s student studying Learning Sciences at the School of Education and Social Policy. She will graduate in 2024.
Amelia Vasquez is an Undergraduate student studying Political Science and Social Policy. She will graduate in 2024.
Ashley Guo is an Undergraduate student studying Cognitive Science. She will graduate in 2026.
Leila Stoll is an Undergraduate student studying Economics and Psychology, minoring in Global Health Studies. She will graduate in 2025.
Nicole Wallace is an Undergraduate student studying Biological Sciences and Spanish, minoring in Political Science. She will graduate in 2024.