Winslab Research Team
Dr. Adam Winsler (awinsler@gmu.edu)
Dr. Winsler is an applied developmental psychologist with interests in children's transition to school, the development of self-regulation, private speech, Vygotskian sociocultural theory and bilingualism and early schooling for English-Language Learners (ELLs). His current research explores childcare, school readiness, and school trajectories among ethnically and linguistically diverse, immigrant, low-income, urban preschoolers using data from the large-scale (n > 30,000) longitudinal Miami School Readiness Project; Private speech and self-regulation in typical children and those with ADHD or autistic spectrum disorders; Music/dance and self-regulation; and self-regulated learning and motivation among college students. Dr. Winsler is author of more than 100 journal articles and book chapters and has two books. His most recent book, Private speech, executive functioning, and the development of verbal self-regulation was published by Cambridge University Press in 2009. He has received over $2 million of research funding for his work. Dr. Winsler also served as editor of the journal, Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
Download Dr. Winsler's CV here, and watch his recent interview on bilingualism here.
Alena Alegrado (PhD)
Alenamie is a fifth-year PhD student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program. She graduated from George Mason University in 2016 with a B.S. in Psychology and concentration in Applied Developmental Psychology. Prior to starting the PhD Program, she worked as a research specialist for the University of Virginia Curry School of Education. She conducted child and classroom assessments at the pre-K and kindergarten level for a longitudinal study exploring long-term effects of pre-K programs. Her current research focuses on predictors and outcomes of in-school arts enrollment among low-SES, ethnically diverse students with primary interest in the unique differences between music classes (Band, Chorus, Guitar, Orchestra, Keyboard).
Isis Cowan (PhD)
Isis is a first-year PhD student in the ADP program working in Dr. Winsler’s lab. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a B.S. in Psychology in 2021. She studied identity development and cultural processes in ethnic/racial minority groups. Before joining the Wins lab, she spent 2 years as a lab manager for the Changing Brain Lab at the University of Pennsylvania where she assisted with multiple research projects, including scanning 5-7 year olds with an MRI and a community organization project with ParentChild+. Isis’ current research interests include enhancing developmental and educational outcomes for people with ASD in minority groups.
Ben is a fourth-year undergraduate student working in Dr. Winsler's lab. Ben will be graduating with a B.S in psychology in Spring 2024. Ben plans to graduate with a concentration in developmental, educational, and clinical psychology as well as human factors and applied cognition. Ben is currently in the second semester of the Psychology Honors Program where he is developing his thesis on the race, gender, and income differences in primary exceptionality status over time. Ben's interests pertain to disabilities, accommodations, and special education.
Ajeya Hughes (MA)
Ajeya is a second-year master's student working in Dr. Winsler's lab. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A in Psychology from Hampton University in May 2022. As an undergraduate, she studied how extracurricular activities impact students' academic achievement and school satisfaction and was given the opportunity to present her findings to other students and faculty in the psychology and sociology department. During this time, she also provided ABA therapy services to a two-year old diagnosed with autism and related disorders and was a lead teacher working with ages 2-5 in a childcare. Her current research interests include childcare regulations, policy and social-emotional development.
Alison Hundertmark (PhD)
Alison is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in Dr. Winsler's lab. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Psychology in 2009 and received her M.A. in Social Sciences from The University of Chicago in 2016. She previously worked as a research associate at UChicago's TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health. She was drawn to the center's mission to enact change in the lives of underserved children through innovative parent-directed programs. Her current research interests include understanding the association of early childhood poverty experiences, including persistence and mobility, with later academic achievements. She is also exploring variability in parent-report measurements of early childhood skills/behaviors and their predictability with later outcomes.
Mallory Jenkins (MA)
Mallory is a first-year Master’s student working in Dr. Winsler’s lab. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Human Services from Appalachian State University in May 2023. As an undergraduate, she studied how children expressed typical/atypical gender roles through play using observations from Appalachian State’s Child Development Center. During this time, she served as a Research Assistant supporting Master’s and PhD students thesis and dissertation projects. Her current research interests include proactive interventions in childhood ACE’s and how parent-child interactions promote emotion-regulation and language development.
Ulda Maldonado (BA)
Ulda is a senior currently majoring in Psychology B.A. with concentrations in both clinical and developmental psychology. After undergrad, she plans on gathering more research experience and then applying to a master’s or PhD program. She is currently in her second semester of the Psychology honor’s program developing her thesis on the immigrant advantage and immigrant paradox within Latinx immigrant children.
Maharun Mia (BA)
Maharun is an alumni who graduated from GMU in 2023 with her BS in Psychology, concentrating in clinical psychology. Her research interests focus on neurodivergence, intersectionality, and special education.
Diego Ordonez (MA)
Diego is a second-year Master’s student in the ADP program working in Dr. Winsler’s lab. He graduated from Portland State University in 2020 with a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology; and a minor in Computer Science. Before starting at GMU, he worked with the Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services, assisting with multiple research projects being done in partnership with the School of Social Work at Portland State University and Oregon Child Welfare touching on the fields of early childhood, family support, and cross-systems integration for children and youth. His research interests include social-emotional development, teacher-child relationships, and studies of Hispanic and Latine communities.
Victor Ortiz Cortes (PhD)
Victor is a third-year Ph.D. student in Dr. Winsler’s lab. He graduated from Hunter College, CUNY, in 2019 with a B.A. in Psychology. Before coming to George Mason, Victor was at the New York Academy of Medicine, working on the East Harlem Action Collaborative for Child Health and Well-being (EHAC). As part of EHAC, he aided in using the voices of residents to redefine child-wellbeing. He also compiled measures to assess the residents’ definition of child well-being. Victor’s current research interests lie in understanding the impact of neighborhood factors on academic achievement and language development.
Joshua Stein (PhD)
Joshua is a second year PhD student. He received his BA in Psychology and his BA in Musical Theatre from Rider University. While at Rider he was involved in research in Psych and Law on the topic of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Currently, his research is on the impacts of arts engagement among adolescents. He is passionate about making the arts accessible to adolescents with disabilities. His other interests among the usefulness of role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons as therapeutic methods for neurodiverse children and the unique affordances of museums as educational spaces.
Tevis Tucker (PhD)
Tevis is a fifth-year doctoral student in George Mason’s Applied Developmental Psychology Program. He graduated with honors from the University of Central Florida in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Tevis has been working in Dr. Adam Winsler’s lab, as well as the Mason Arts Research Center (MasonARC), during his time at GMU. Tevis’ research interests are at the intersection of music education and arts education policy, with his current work focusing on student persistence within middle and high school band, orchestra, choir, and guitar classes.
Christina Waddell (BA)
Christina is a fourth-year undergraduate student in Dr. Winsler’s lab. She will be graduating with a B.A. in psychology and a concentration in clinical psychology in Spring 2023. She is in the second semester of the Psychology Honors Program. Christina’s research interests focus on racial/ethnic minorities, gender identity, sexual orientation, and cognition.
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