ELLI is a collaborative research group from Michigan State University and Texas A&M University.
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- We mentor undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of disciplines to enhance young children’s language and literacy development.
- Using an apprenticeship model, we provide many opportunities to conduct research with our team nationally and internationally.
- We value the input of practitioners in the field and work to make sure that our assessments and interventions fit the needs of the communities where we work.
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We welcome potential students regardless of race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, or disability status. We believe that having many perspectives strengthens our science.
Meet the team of researchers that make up the ELLI Research Group
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Hope Gerde, PhD
Faculty, Texas A&M
Interests: Early Writing Development, Teacher influences of children’s language and literacy development
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Marc Goodrich, PhD
Faculty, Texas A&M
Interests: Development of early oral language and literacy skills among bilingual children
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Lori Skibbe, PhD
Faculty, Michigan State University
Interests: Literacy and Language Development, Assessment, Self-Regulation
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Ryan Bowles, PhD
Faculty, Michigan State University
Interests: Measurement and Assessment Development, Early Literacy and Language Development
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Burcu Ozkum
Graduate Student, Michigan State University
Interests: Digital media, technology, early language and literacy development
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Madeline Klotz
Graduate Student, Michigan State University
Interests: Empathy, caregiving relationships, prosocial behavior, resilience, youth mental health & well-being
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Kyla McRoy
Graduate Student, Michigan State University
Interests: Self-regulation development and best practices
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Luci Davila
Graduate Student, Michigan State
Interests: Coaching Early Childhood Educators, Early Literacy, Social Emotional Learning
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Sarah Dunkel-Jackson, PhD
Faculty and Project Coordinator, Michigan State University
Interests: behavior assessment, behavioral interventions, social-emotional regulation, training and development, verbal behavior and communication, and sports.