Esther Leerkes

Dr. Esther Leerkes is the HHS Associate Dean for Research and Jefferson Pilot Excellence Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). With a PhD in Experimental/Developmental Psychology from the University of Vermont, she has been at UNCG since 2003. Her research focuses on psychological, biological, and contextual predictors of parenting quality and its impact on child outcomes like emotion regulation, mental health, and obesity. She collaborates across disciplines including Nursing, Psychology, Nutrition, and Kinesiology, with funding from NIH grants (R03, R21, R01) and NSF programs.

Leerkes chairs the Child and Family Research Network (CFRN) and previously served on the Research and Instruction in STEM Education (RISE) board. She advises UNCG’s Office of Research and Engagement through committees like the UNCG Research Advisory Committee. Her work emphasizes biopsychosocial factors in infant development, leveraging machine learning and longitudinal studies like the iGrow project.

• Education: PhD in Experimental/Developmental Psychology (University of Vermont)
• Key Roles: HHS Research Liaison, NSF Spartans ADVANCE Internal Advisory Board Member

Her research interests span prenatal health, maternal sensitivity, intergenerational parenting patterns, and the role of socioeconomic factors. Notable awards include recognition for research, teaching, and mentoring excellence. She serves on editorial boards and NIH/NSF review panels, contributing to policy and grant evaluation.