Lisa Boyce

Lisa Boyce is a Professor and Executive Director of the DDE Center for Early Care and Education within the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Utah State University. Her research focuses on early childhood development and intervention for at-risk populations through quantitative methodologies.

Education Background:

• PhD in Family and Human Development, Utah State University (1999)
• M.Ed. in Psychological Services, Idaho State University (1992)
• BS in Psychology, Idaho State University (1991)
• Pre-Technical Biology, Ricks College (1989)

Research Focus: Dr. Boyce investigates early language development, emergent literacy, and parent-child interactions, with emphasis on dual language learners and children in poverty. Her current projects include classroom bookmaking interventions for Head Start children, dissemination of the SHELLS curriculum for migrant families, evaluation of Ecuador's early education curriculum, and predictors of language development in bilingual children. She employs rigorous program evaluation frameworks to assess intervention efficacy.

Publication Trends: Her recent work demonstrates consistent focus on practical, scalable interventions that strengthen parent-child language interactions. Key themes include adapting bookmaking/storytelling techniques for diverse populations, measuring longitudinal impacts on school readiness, and developing culturally responsive strategies for migrant families and dual language learners within Head Start frameworks.

Awards & Honors:

• Solnit Fellow (Zero to Three, 2001)
• Research Assistant of the Year (College of Family Life & Family and Human Development Department, 1996)
• Research Scholars Grant Award (Head Start, 1996)
• Graduated with Honors (Idaho State University, 1991)
• Kasiska Foundation Scholarship (Idaho State University, 1990)
• Leadership Scholarship (Ricks College, 1987)

Advising & Grants: Dr. Boyce has mentored 15+ graduate students in Human Development and Family Studies. Her grant portfolio includes SHELLS (Storytelling for Home Enrichment of Language and Literacy Skills), PEECSE (Promoting Effective Engagement, Communication, and Self-regulation with English language learners), and UTELL (Using Technology for Emergent Literacy and Language), all targeting early language development in vulnerable populations.

Leadership: As Executive Director of the DDE Center for Early Care and Education, she oversees translational research connecting academic scholarship with community implementation in early childhood systems.