Henry Wellman is a child psychologist specializing in children's developing abilities to think and reason. Much of his current research focuses on the child's developing understanding of people. As adults, we understand persons in terms of their inner psychological states and processes -- we see actors external behaviors as a product of their internal beliefs, desires, emotions, and intentions. When and how do children acquire this basic understanding of self and others? His research is developmental and cultural -- he researches the differing conceptions of people acquired by children growing up in different cultural communities, as well as the basic social conceptions in infants and young preschoolers that allow children to learn about their social worlds in the first place.

Profile | CHGD | hmw@umich.edu

Lorene Dreisbach is a Junior at the University of Michigan majoring in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science. Before joining the Infant Cognition Project, Lorene worked at the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center (UMACC). She plans to attend medical school and pursue a career working with children. During the summer, Lorene enjoys playing tennis and volunteering at Camp Mak-A-Dream in Gold Creek, MT.

Kristen Goncalves recently earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan majoring in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science. Before joining the Infant Cognition Project, Kristen volunteered at C.S. Mott's Children's Hospital, coached soccer at the university, and volunteered with Bridging Communities through Soccer. She plans to attend medical school and eventually specialize in pediatric medicine. In her free time, Kristen enjoys playing sports and reading.

Hope Peskin-Shepherd is a senior at the University of Michigan majoring in both Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and Spanish. Besides working at the Infant Cognition Project, Hope has worked at Camp Michigania, a Michigan alumni family camp, and volunteered in a preschool in Israel. Her favorite part of working with children is being surprised by their creativity. In her free time, she enjoys singing in choir, reading, and spending time with friends.

Rebecca Seguin-Skrabucha is a junior at the University of Michigan majoring in Psychology. Rebecca has worked with children in a varied of contexts and has been a teacher, tutor, and camp counselor. Before becoming a research assistant in the Infant Cognition Project, Rebecca aided in experiments performed within the Gender and Respect in Organizations lab, specifically examining workplace incivility. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys serving as a coordinator of Camp Kesem, watching old movies, shopping, and spending time with family and friends.

Amanda is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lehigh University. Her research examines the development of knowledge during infancy and early childhood, and the ways in which infants and young children move beyond what is perceptually available to reason about the underlying, less obvious aspects of people and objects. In her work at the Infant Cognition Project, she addressed this theme by examining infants' reasoning about the internal properties of people, including their intentions, knowledge, and beliefs.

Lehigh University Cognitive Development Lab

Alyssa Krentzel is a senior at the University of Michigan pursuing a degree in Psychology. Her favorite part of working at the Infant Cognition Project is the opportunity to play with the children and learn from them. Before working at the Infant Cognition Project, Alyssa was an assistant teacher at the University of Michigan Children's Center and hopes to pursue a childhood oriented career. In her free time, Alyssa enjoys dancing, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Alexis Yezbick is a senior at U of M majoring in both Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science and Sociology. Alexis plans to pursue a career working with children. Besides working at the Infant Cognition Project, Alexis has volunteered at a local elementary school and worked as a mentor at a children's science and engineering camp last summer. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time in the Arb, and shopping with friends.

Chelsea graduated from U of M in May of 2009 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Her favorite part of working at the Infant Cognition Project is interacting with the children, and also learning more about the research process. Chelsea is now pursuing a PhD in Child and School Psychology at The University of Minnesota.

Nikki graduated from U of M in 2011 with a degree in Psychology. Before working at the Infant Cognition Project, Nikki worked in the infant/toddler room at the University's Children Center and at the Kadima Center for Mental Illness in Southfield, Michigan. In her free time, Nikki enjoys reading, cooking and watching the TV show "Friends." Nikki is now pursuing a specialist degree in School Psychology at Michigan State University.

Jessie graduated from U of M with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology in 2009. Jessie’s favorite part about working at the Infant Cognition Project is getting to work with new families and children each day. She particularly enjoys studying preschool aged children's understanding of people and their lives. Jessie hopes to pursue a career in child and family advocacy.

Lisa graduated from U of M in May of 2009 with a Bachelor's degree in Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Sciences. Her favorite part of working with children is playing games with them. Lisa also enjoys the process of developing new studies, and seeing what the studies conclude about infant behavior and theory of mind. She is currently pursuing a career in genetic counseling.

Andrea graduated from U of M in 2010 with degrees in both Psychology and Dental Hygiene. What she loves most about working with infants is the wide range of behaviors and personalities they exhibit throughout different stages of their development. In her career as a dental hygienist, Andrea hopes to use her psychology degree to help connect with patients on a more personal level and better understand their fears about coming to the dentist.

Alissa graduated from U of M in 2011 with a degree in Brain, Behavior and Cognition science. She plans on pursuing a career in medicine. As well as working at the Infant Cognition Project, Alissa volunteers at the University’s hospital and is a camp counselor during the summers. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading and playing lacrosse.