Emily Reilly

As a developmental psychologist, my program of research is focused on parent-child relationships in the first few years of life and how those relationships shape child development. I study how relationships between primary caregivers and their young children are shaped by life experiences and by psychological and biological processes in parents and children. I examine stress regulation and parenting behavior as well as how systems of oppression and family programs and policies impact the parent-child relationship and equity in child development. My research uses biological measures such as hair and salivary cortisol in addition to psychological measures. In recent years, I have been interested in compassion and self-compassion in parents, particularly their benefits for reducing stress. I have also served as a research consultant for a community organization serving families with young children in Minneapolis and authored a blog post on helping children thrive through climate change with my colleagues.

I grew up in eastern Massachusetts and earned my B.S. in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Before coming to St. Lawrence, I worked as a Research Scientist at Duke University in the Center for Child and Family Policy. I teach courses including Introduction to Psychology and Developmental Psychology. I enjoy running, cross-country skiing, knitting, and going on hikes with my dog.