Carol Scheffner Hammer

Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer is a Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she also serves as Vice Dean for Research. She is affiliated with the Department of Biobehavioral Sciences and directs the Developing Language and Literacy Lab. Her career spans leadership roles at Temple University and Penn State University, and she has been a prominent figure in advancing research on bilingual children’s development.

Dr. Hammer earned her Ph.D. in Speech Pathology from the University of Iowa, an M.A. from Northwestern University, and a B.A. from Augustana College, all in Speech Pathology, with additional training in Psychology. Her academic journey reflects a deep commitment to interdisciplinary and culturally responsive research.

Her research focuses on the language and literacy development of young dual language learners (DLLs), particularly those from under-resourced and diverse cultural backgrounds. Key areas include trajectories of language development, environmental and cultural influences, assessment tools, and interventions such as Parents Plus and Háblame Bebé. Her work emphasizes the importance of family engagement, home literacy practices, and culturally responsive methodologies.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on bilingual development, intervention efficacy, and equity in early education. Trends include the use of mobile health tools, longitudinal studies of narrative development, and large-scale assessments of phonological and vocabulary growth across languages.

• Honors of the Association, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2024
• Fellow, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2010
• Editor’s Award, Outstanding Research Article, Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools, 2007
• Meritorious Poster, ASHA Convention, 2014 and 2011

Dr. Hammer has advised numerous doctoral and graduate students, many of whom are co-authors on her publications. She has secured over $20 million in research funding from federal agencies including NIH, IES, and HRSA, serving as PI on major grants such as the Tools of the Mind project and the Center for Early Care and Education Research: DLLs. Her leadership extends to national networks like the Bridging the Word Gap Research Network.

She leads the Developing Language and Literacy Lab, which conducts cutting-edge research on early language interventions, family engagement, and assessment tools for bilingual children. The lab fosters collaboration across disciplines and institutions, contributing significantly to policy and practice in early childhood education.