About
Dr. Michelle Luna is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame, located in Corbett Family Hall. She serves as managing director of Tutor-ND and collaborates with the Center for Educational Research and Action (ERA). Her research focuses on early language and cognitive development in children, particularly how contextual factors influence learning and how to apply findings in educational settings.
Education: She holds a Postdoctoral Research Associate degree from the University of Notre Dame, and prior degrees include a Ph.D. and M.A. from UCLA, along with a B.A. and M.A. from Notre Dame.
Research Interests: Her work emphasizes bilingual language development, shared book reading interventions, design-based research in education, and the intersection of language and cognitive skills. She explores how cultural and contextual factors shape learning processes in children.
Labs and Collaborations: Previously affiliated with UCLA’s Language and Cognitive Development Lab, she now leads initiatives at Tutor-ND, focusing on scalable educational interventions and evidence-based practices. Her current projects include evaluating shared book reading programs and examining factors influencing academic success in diverse learners.
