

Jessica Rodrigues
Faculty, Special Education
Director, MPL
Dr. Rodrigues is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was previously faculty at the University of Missouri. She is the Director of the Mathematics Potential Lab and Principal Investigator on a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER grant.

Emily L. Singell
Ph.D. Student, Special Education
Project Lead, NSF KEY
Project Lead, NSF TVA
Emily is a fourth-year graduate student in the Department of Special Education at the University of Missouri. Her research interests include data-based individualization as a tool to support teachers’ use and effective implementation of evidence-based mathematics instructional practices to improve outcomes for students with or at risk for mathematics disabilities. She is also interested in translation science and making research accessible to educators and key stakeholders.

Shannon Locke
Ph.D. Student, Special Education
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Khatmin Thant
Graduate Student
Research Assistant
Khatmin is a graduate student in the Master's of Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (MEITE) program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is on the Learning Engineer track, planning to work in educational design and technology, primarily in K-12 public schools. He has experience in education, serving as a student teacher at Carrboro Elementary School and a Youth Counselor for their after-school program, while also researching the effects of mindfulness exercises on student behavior. He is very passionate about ways to improve the school system and decrease the widening performance gap that schools are currently facing.

Anna Gustaveson
Doctoral Student, School of Ed.
Anna Gustaveson is a doctoral student at UNC in the Culture, Curriculum, and Teacher Education concentration with a specialization in Mathematics Education. She studies systemic narratives and teachers' beliefs and discourses about students' competence in math. Her work seeks to support pre-service and in-service teachers in understanding how systemic narratives influence their views of student competence in deficit ways, and to adopt anti-deficit discourses and instructional practices in their classrooms.

Haiyi Cheng
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Haiyi is a master’s student in the Educational Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (MEITE) Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. He is interested in how institutional structures shape learning opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. Before joining MPL, he worked as a research assistant at Carolina Population Center, focusing on social stratification and health disparities. He is passionate about using quantitative methods and learning analytics to identify and address barriers to student success.

Boran Yu
Doctural Student
Boran Yu is a doctoral student in the Learning Science and Psychological Studies program at the School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her Research & Interests include:​
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Supporting mathematics teachers' implementation of evidence-based classroom practice
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Leveraging learning science theories and research evidence to support mathematics teachers' pedagogical reasoning
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Mentoring teachers in developing agency in implementing evidence-based practices.

Emma Wilde
Undergraduate Researcher
Emma is a senior and a North Carolina native. She is studying Psychology and Human Development and Family Sciences. She is interested in career in Marriage and Family Therapy, hoping to help make an impact on breaking generational cycles. She is passionate about working and making a difference among young students, hoping to continue with research on educational equality.

Shekhar Dash
Graduate Student Reseacher
Shekhar Dash is a graduate student in the MEITE program in the Adaptive Learning Analytics track. He is a filmmaker, educator, and entrepreneur with academic interests in data science and the cognitive neuroscience–informed design of educational technologies. He is particularly interested in applying data-driven approaches to understand learning processes and to design effective, scalable educational systems.

Maria Scotti D'abbusco
Undergraduate Researcher
I am a junior at UNC double majoring in Psychology and Human Development and Family Science, with a minor in Health and Society. I am passionate about working with children and am particularly interested in how diverse life experiences shape children's mental health and early educational outcomes. After graduation, I hope to pursue a PhD in developmental psychology and a career as a therapist supporting children and families.

Sophie Schulze
Undergraduate Researcher & Head of Marketing
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Mackenna Vander Tuin
Graduate Research Assistant, UT Austin
Mackenna is a fourth-year doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin in the Special Education department. Her research interests include elementary mathematics interventions, mathematics vocabulary, parental involvement in academics, and playscape accessibility. She hopes to continue educational research in her career to further the academic success of students with or at risk for mathematics difficulty.


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Graduate students and practitioners from across the United States joined the Mathematics Potential Lab via mentored Summer Fellowships,
funded by Project TVA and NSF CAREER Project KEY.​


Alexandra "Allie" Wolf
NSF TVA Summer 2024 Fellow
Allie is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Special Education program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research interests revolve around writing curriculum and instruction for youth with dis/Abilities experiencing the juvenile carceral system. Prior to her doctoral study, Allie taught middle and high school English language arts in a public school district. Her experiences have led to her conviction that institutions must grow and change to provide all youth with a quality, liberatory, and accessible education.

Boran Yu
NSF TVA Summer 2024 Fellow
Boran is a second-year PhD student in the Learning Science and Psychological Studies program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is passionate in bringing the research together with practice in the K-12 mathematics classroom as a researcher, a teacher, and a teacher educator. Before this, she received her MSc from the University of Edinburgh.

Louis Justman
NSF TVA Summer 2024 Fellow
Louis is completing his Ph.D. studies at the University of Kansas. He is in the Instructional Design, Technology & Innovation specialization of the Special Education program. Before moving into academia, Louis served K-12 students with exceptionalities in Michigan public schools. Louis’ research interests lie at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and special education. He hopes to help foster AI to enhance and personalize student learning and better prepare K-12 educators to address unique needs and challenges.

Emily Hardeman
NSF TVA Summer 2024 Fellow
Emily is a third year doctorate student at the University of Texas at Austin in the Special Education program. She holds a Masters degree in Special Education and is a Certified Academic Language Therapist. Prior to joining the doctorate program, she was a Special Education teacher in public schools. Emily's research interest is teacher knowledge of reading. She is passionate about supporting students with reading disabilities through research and advocacy.

Dawn Grigg Purdie
NSF TVA Summer 2024 Fellow
Dawn is a recent graduate from NC State University in the MEd Special Education program. She currently works at Fusion Academy as a Special Education Lead, working 1:1 with students and teachers to provide individualized education to grades 6-12. Dawn’s research interests include learning loss, specifically post COVID, and effective teaching strategies to improve student progress.

Kathyanne Sheffield
NSF TVA Summer 2024 Fellow
Kathyanne is K-12 practitioner and a recent doctoral graduate from the University of Houston earning an Ed.D in Professional Leadership-Special Populations. Her academic journey has been guided by a fervent commitment to addressing critical issues within education, including advocating for special populations, promoting racial equity, and championing social-emotional learning initiatives.

Kathleen Mason
NSF TVA Summer 2024 Fellow
Katie is a second-year doctoral student in the Special Education Program at the University of Texas at Austin. She holds a Master’s of Science in Government Analytics from Johns Hopkins University. Most recently, she attended the Modern Meta-Analysis Research Institute. Katie is dedicated to prevention science, aiming to improve long-term student outcomes through mathematics and behavioral intervention research.

Kyle C. Hay
NSF TVA Summer 2024 Fellow
Kyle is a third-year Special Education doctoral candidate in the Department of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research interests lie at the intersection of cognitive control, anxiety, and students with or at-risk for mathematics disabilities. He is also interested in special education policy related to teacher preparation. He previously received his M.S. in Special Education from the University of Kansas, and has worked as a special education teacher.


Kailee
Rickerson

Rachel
Johnston
Dani
Davis

Kailey
Gidley

Kristin
Moser

Erin
Johlie

Kate Roberts

Wendy
Cornell

Julia
Loffredo

Rhiannon
Sicht

Emma
Ellison
Interested in supporting each child's mathematics success
& gaining experience working in a research lab?
Contact Dr. Rodrigues: jessica.rodrigues@unc.edu​​
