Who We Are
• Current Lab Members •
Lauren J. Myers, Ph.D.
Professor Lauren Myers is a developmental psychologist who focuses on cognitive and social-cognitive development. She grew up in Winston-Salem NC and attended Furman University for college, where she double-majored in psychology and music. She attended The Pennsylvania State University for her M.S and Ph.D. in psychology. Professor Myers studies children’s symbolic and representational development, or how children of all ages learn to use, create, and understand symbols such as maps, drawings, videos, and photographs. Professor Myers’ current research interests include children’s use of symbols to communicate information to other people; children’s learning from digital media; how children remember and understand gestures; how children and adults develop an understanding of their own and others’ minds; and developmental changes in spatial and mapping abilities throughout the lifespan. When she’s not teaching or doing research, she enjoys playing piano, reading, and gardening.
Abbey Milhaven, ’24
Abbey is a senior from Westchester, New York. She will graduate in 2024 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology and Sociology. She has been working in the Lafayette College Kids Lab since Spring 2022 and looks forward to continuing her work as the Head Research Assistant for the Lafayette Kids Lab. Within the Department of Psychology, Abbey has been a P.L.A. (Psychology Lab Assistant) for the Introduction to Psychology lab course since Fall 2022 and is excited to continue her position this year. She is also the Vice President of the Lafayette College Chapter of Psi Chi, the international honors society for psychology, and is a senior honors thesis candidate. Outside of academics, Abbey has been a Head Resident Advisor for the Office of Residence Life since Fall 2022 and is excited to continue to work with her Resident Advisor student staff. She is also a member of both the Lafayette College Pep Band and the Percussion Ensemble. After Lafayette College, Abbey plans to attend graduate school for developmental psychology and continue to research the influence of digital media on early childhood development.
Hayley Katz, ’25
Hayley is a junior from Andover, Massachusetts. She will be graduating in 2025 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology and Sociology. She started the lab in Fall 2023 and is looking forward to continuing her work in the lab for the next two years! Hayley is very involved in the Psychology department, as a member of Psi Chi Psychology Honors Society and a team leader in the Neurodiversity lab. Outside of academics, Hayley created and runs the Creative Minds program, a program going into the Northampton County Prison that promotes empowerment inside of a women’s unit. She is also the director of a Landis Center team focusing on programs that involve Food and Housing Security, on the Pards Against Sexual Assault programming committee, the executive board for Lafayette’s Pre-Orientation Service Program, and the director of video and sisterhood for her sorority. Hayley has also worked a lot with kids through being a sleepaway camp counselor and swim teacher for three years. After Lafayette, Hayley plans to attend graduate school in the hopes of becoming a therapist for kids and young adults.
Jess Langlois, ’24
Jess is a rising senior from Malvern, Pennsylvania. She will be graduating from Lafayette in the spring of 2024 with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology and Sociology. This is her first time working with the Lafayette Kids Lab as an Excel Scholar and she is so excited to be here! Jess works heavily with the Lafayette College Psychology Department; she has been a Psychology Lab Assistant for the Introduction to Psychology lab course since Fall 2021. She is also the president of Psi Chi, the international psychology honor society, and a senior honors psychology thesis candidate. Previously, she has also been a peer tutor for Introduction to Psychology and a Peer Tutor for first-year psychology students. Outside of the Psychology Department, Jess is the president of her sorority (Alpha Gamma Delta), student co-director of the Lafayette Percussion Ensemble, the operations coordinator of Lafayette Extended Orientation, and the bass guitarist in the pit orchestra. After she graduates, Jess plans to attend graduate school for school counseling, with the hope to work with children and families in elementary schools.
Kendall Shaw, ’26
Kendall is a s
ophomore from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She will graduate in 2026 with a B.A. in Psychology and Art. She has been working in the Lafayette College Kids Lab since Fall 2023 and looks forward to continuing her work in the lab in the upcoming years! Outside of academics, Kendall is a part of the CaPA Scholars Program, where she works closely with professors and other scholars to contribute to the Lafayette community by tackling diverse issues, including social justice, gender, and race. She also is Vice-President of the Pottery Club and works closely with other arts clubs on campus such as the Arts Society. Kendall has also worked as an Ambassador for Lafayette College, recruiting new students and families by sharing her experiences and love for the college. She also has worked at kids’ summer camps for the past 5 years. After Lafayette College, Kendall plans to attend graduate school for clinical psychology in hopes of becoming a therapist for kids!
Lauren Daniels, ’25
Lauren is a junior from Long Island, New York. She will be graduating in 2025 with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology. She has been working in the Lafayette College Kids Lab since Fall 2022 and is looking forward to continuing her work in the lab as an EXCEL Scholar. Lauren is a member of the Lafayette College Chapter of Psi Chi. Lauren is passionate about food justice research and children’s behavioral and developmental research and is planning on conducting a thesis at the intersection of these discourses. She does extended volunteer work surrounding Food and Housing Sovereignty, as she is the Program Coordinator and Founder for Landis’ weekly “Pax Partners” program with Paxinosa Elementary School. Lauren’s love for children extends outside of the lab, as she is a tutor with America Reads. Lauren’s hobbies center around fitness and writing; she is a Fitness Assistant at the Recreational Center and a Writing Associate for the Lafayette College Writing Program.
• Lab Alumni •
Heather Keyser, ’18
Heather is a rising senior from Cranbury, New Jersey. She will be graduating in 2018 with a B.A. in Psychology and an Anthropology and Sociology Minor. She worked in the Lafayette College Kids Lab as an EXCEL Scholar in the fall of 2016 and is excited to continue her work this summer of 2017. In addition to being an EXCEL Scholar, Heather is also a proud member of Psi Chi, the international psychology honors society. Besides being a dedicated psychology scholar, on campus she also volunteers through Landis, Lafayette’s community outreach center. She is a member of Firth Friday’s, a group of Lafayette College students that volunteer their time at an afterschool program working and playing with children of all ages. After Lafayette College Heather plans to continue on to the graduate level to work towards further advancing her psychology career.
Mary Cors ’19
Mary is a member of the graduating class of 2019 and is working towards her B.A. in Psychology. Originally from Hackettstown, New Jersey, she is a member of the Psi Chi Psychology Honors Society and is a section leader for the concert choir. Mary worked as camp counselor at Hi Hills Day Camp for five years, and spent summer 2017 as an EXCEL research scholar at Lafayette, where she was thrilled to gain experience in the research field. After college, Mary plans to attend graduate school to earn a degree in developmental psychology.
Emily Crawford ’15
Emily is a rising senior and a B.A. Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies double major at Lafayette. Originally from Long Island, New York and a member of Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, she is looking forward to spending the summer as a research assistant in the Lafayette Kids Lab through the EXCEL scholars program. On campus, she is also a tour guide, is a manager of the student led calling program for the Annual Fund, and is involved with the Landis Community Outreach Center as a volunteer. She loves developmental psychology and working with children, and is excited to learn the ins and outs of developmental research during the summer! Additionally, Emily will be working on a senior thesis during the 2014-2015 academic year with Professor Basow, combining her passion for gender issues and developmental psych.
Claire Murphy ’15
Originally from Westchester, New York, Claire is a member of the graduating class of 2015 at Lafayette College and is working towards her B.S. in Psychology. She intends to attend graduate school for physical therapy with a possible focus in pediatrics. Claire spent the summer of 2013 volunteering in the outpatient physical therapy unit at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center, often times working with children with special needs. Claire could not be more excited to work for Professor Myers as an EXCEL scholar for the summer of 2014 in the Lafayette Kids Lab as she loves interacting with children. In addition to being an EXCEL scholar, Claire is a member of the Lafayette Track and Field team where her main event is pole-vaulting. Claire is also a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, has been a teaching assistant for Studio Art classes at the college, and intends to continue being a teaching assistant throughout her senior year.
Makenzie Danis ’15
Makenzie is a member of the 2015 graduating class at Lafayette College, and is a B.S. Psychology major, with a minor in health & life sciences. Originally from Long Valley, NJ, she is an active member of the Lafayette Community. For the past three years, she has been on Lafayette’s Girls Fencing team, and is currently serving as the President of the Alpha Phi Sorority. She loves working with children and during the 2013 interim session she worked at a program to teach 3rd graders at a local elementary school as a volunteer. Makenzie volunteered in the lab for fall 2012 and spring 2013, and worked as an EXCEL scholar from summer 2013 through spring 2014. During summer 2014, she is teaching kids in summer camp programs through the Morris Park County NJ Park Commission. After graduating from college, she plans to become an educator.
Renee Gallo ’14
Renee worked in the Lafayette Kids Lab from fall 2011 through spring 2014. She graduated from Lafayette College in 2014 with a B.S. in Psychology and Anthropology & Sociology minor, with a focus in developmental psychology. Originally from Cheshire, CT, her time in Easton includes being Vice President of Program Development of Alpha Phi, Public Relations chair of the Lafayette Dance Company, and donating her time to tutor 5th and 6th graders at the Easton Area Middle School. She has been working closely with Professor Lauren Myers since fall 2011 as an Advanced Research student. In 2012-13, she was an EXCEL Scholar working in the Lafayette Kids Lab on the Baby Skype project. In summer 2013, Renee worked as a research assistant in the Infant Cognition Center at Yale University. She completed a senior thesis with Professor Myers in the Lafayette Kids Lab during the 2013-14 academic year, studying whether pre-adolescents evaluate dishonesty differently in texting vs. face-to-face interactions. Starting in June 2014, Renee is a research assistant at the Pediatrics and Developmental Neuroscience Branch of the National Institutes of Mental Health in Washington DC, studying early markers for autism and other developmental disorders. Ultimately, hopes to use her research knowledge and experience to continue her education in a child-clinical psychology Ph.D. graduate program, and become a licensed clinical psychologist.
Nicole Maselli ’14
Nicole worked in the Lafayette Kids Lab from fall 2012 through spring 2014. She graduated from Lafayette College in 2014 with a B.A. in Psychology. She originally hails from Long Island, New York. She is a tour guide, a Psychology Lab Assistant, and the photo editor of the campus newspaper, as well as a member of the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. She loves kids and spent a past spring break in Virginia, at a camp for intellectually and developmentally disabled children and adults. After college, she plans to work for a few years and then attend graduate school for Clinical Psychology.
Lauren Steinbeck ’14
Lauren worked in the Lafayette kids lab for spring and summer 2013. She graduated from Lafayette College in 2014 with a B.S. in Psychology. Originally from Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Lauren is excited to begin working with Professor Myers this summer as an EXCEL Scholar. Lauren loves kids and has been a dance teacher, as well as a camp counselor with experience working with children with special needs. On campus, she is a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, and a Landis Community Outreach Center volunteer. She has been a member of the Lafayette College Dance Team and the Lafayette Dance Company since her freshman year, and has held both Captain and Secretary positions for the Team, as well as President and Treasurer positions for the Company. Lauren has also been Psychology Lab Assistant (PLA) for a section of the Introductory Psychology lab course. During her senior year, she completed a senior thesis (advised by Professor Bookwala ) on the relationship between stress and mental health in parents of children with special needs. Starting in fall of 2014, Lauren will pursue a graduate Psy.D. degree at LaSalle University in Philadelphia.
Rachel B. LeWitt ’13
Rachel worked in the Lafayette Kids Lab from fall 2011 through spring 2013. She graduated from Lafayette in May 2013 with A.B. Psychology and English major (with honors). On Lafayette’s campus, she was a member of Psi Chi – the International Honor Society in Psychology, an EXCEL scholar, a Writing Associate, a Hebrew tutor, and President of College Democrats for 2 years. She thoroughly enjoyed the years she has spent as a research assistant and conducting Advanced Research under the purview of Professor Myers. She is currently a research specialist at the Brandeis University Cohen Center for Jewish Studies. Ultimately, Rachel hopes to work in a psychology or linguistics lab, for a non-profit or non-governmental organization, a political think tank, or simply continue her passion for travel abroad.
Samantha Nussbaum ’13
Sam graduated from Lafayette College in May 2013 with a double major in Psychology B.S. and Spanish A.B. Originally from Hopewell, NJ, in the Lafayette community she was a Resident Adviser for two years and is now the Head Resident for the Greek Chapters. She served as Alpha Gamma Delta’s Public Relations Coordinator and volunteered in the Easton outreach program, Kids in the Community. Last semester, Samantha studied in Chile as a part of the SIT program Comparative Education and Social Change, conducting research about self-esteem and future plans of high school seniors of varying socioeconomic groups. Samantha conducted Thesis research with Professor Myers and was very excited to explore what the field of child development has to offer. After graduation, Sam began teaching K-12 students through the Urban Teacher Center.
Sarah Mejia ’15
Sarah graduated from Wellesley College in 2014 with a major in Psychology and minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Back home in Allentown for summer 2012, Sarah joined the research efforts of Dr. Lauren Myers and the Lafayette College Kids Lab, with the hopes of helping the lab make strides in the field of Developmental Psychology. At Wellesley College, Sarah has tutored children in reading and mathematics with Harvard’s Mission Hill After-School Program, completed Residential Life duties, been a member of the Blue Notes a capella group, and conducted research under the guidance of Dr. Jennie Pyers in the Laboratory for Language and Cognitive Development (LLCD). When not hitting the books, Sarah enjoys playing the guitar, making music with friends, people-watching, thrift-shopping, and going on relaxing drives. She was excited about working in the lab during summer 2012, observing and participating in the ongoing studies, and looks forward to using her research experience later on in graduate school.