ELLI is a collaborative research group from Michigan State University and Texas A&M University.

    • 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.
    • 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

Hope Gerde, PhD

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

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

Lori Skibbe, PhD

Faculty, Michigan State University

Interests: Literacy and Language Development, Assessment, Self-Regulation
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Ryan Bowles, PhD

Ryan Bowles, PhD

Faculty, Michigan State University

Interests: Measurement and Assessment Development, Early Literacy and Language Development
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Burcu Ozkum

Burcu Ozkum

Graduate Student, Michigan State University

Interests: Digital media, technology, early language and literacy development

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Madeline Klotz

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

Kyla McRoy

Graduate Student, Michigan State University

Interests: Self-regulation development and best practices

Luci Davila

Luci Davila

Graduate Student, Michigan State

Interests: Coaching Early Childhood Educators, Early Literacy, Social Emotional Learning

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Sarah Dunkel-Jackson, PhD

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. 

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We encourage graduate students to apply!