Meet our Team
Helana Girgis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology & Director of the Children’s Learning Lab (CLL)
Ph.D., University of Arkansas, 2015
M.A., University of North Carolina Wilmington
B.A., University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
I am an assistant professor of psychology and the director of the Children’s Learning Lab (CLL). My research focuses on cognitive development during the preschool years. I find it both illuminating and rewarding to uncover how and why children learn about the world as they do, especially as it relates to the development of their understanding of complex concepts. As scientists, It is vital that we investigate the many socio-cultural influences that may be responsible for individual and population differences. For the past 3 years and with the help of research assistants from the American University of Cairo, I’ve been actively trying to answer these same research questions in Egypt! We believe that this will give us a more complete understanding of how children’s concepts develop across ages, for example, which thinking patterns are universal and the timing of any cultural influence on these patterns.
It is through this research that we can provide the best environment for children to reach their full potential, which is not possible without the help of our community, specifically our schools, directors, principals, teachers, parents and children. We are very thankful for your support and dedication to children’s cognitive and social development!
ÒùÐÔÊÓƵ Research Assistants
Josephine Sykora
Bryanna Storck
Victoria Corless
Sam Hoffman
Eileen Noland
Jason Schaub
Carlita Holloway
Riley Perron
Karly Pratt
Amal Alkhatib
Project for Distinctions
Gabrielle Friel
Brenna Borgstede
Shayla Nagle
Lab Alumni
- Hanya Abdelbadie
- Dalia Afifi
- Fatimah Badawy
- Claire Berman
- Gloria Boutros
- Veronica Campbell
- Anna Caputo
- Stephanie Coulman
- Alivia Elliot
- Shoruq Elmeligy
- Allison Fitzsimmons
- Devon Freed
- Tania Gafanha
- Michaela Giaquinto
- Sherine Hassan
- Kaylee Heslin
- Hailey Jones
- Alexandria Lamoreaux
- Ethan Mays
- Reem Naber
- Alexandra Nicoletti
- Reet Patel
- Olivia Roth
- Abigail Schreder
- Belgusa Sherifi
- Sheren Sobeih
- Sherine Soliman
- Anthony Staton
- Justin Supnick
- Briana Sylejmani
- Sousana Thabit
- Cheyanne Wyble
- Danielle Yaeger
- Melissa Zou