Jennifer Coffman

Jennifer Coffman is a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). She also serves as Director of the Child & Family Research Network (CFRN), a collaborative initiative aimed at improving children and family well-being through interdisciplinary research. Her primary research focuses on mechanisms of cognitive development, particularly how socialization processes in home and school environments influence children’s memory strategies, metacognition, gratitude, and academic achievement. She holds a Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Key research themes include the socialization of cognitive and affective functioning, with emphasis on how parental interactions and teacher language shape children’s development. Her work spans topics like memory strategy acquisition, gratitude expression, and the physiological underpinnings of self-regulation. The Cognition in Context Lab, her primary research group, investigates these issues through experimental and observational methods. Recent studies have examined the impact of the pandemic on family functioning and adolescent adjustment, as well as the role of parasympathetic nervous system activity in school readiness.

Coffman’s contributions bridge developmental science with practical applications, such as designing interventions to foster gratitude in children. Her collaborative approach is evident through her leadership in CFRN, which connects UNCG scholars across disciplines to address child and family challenges. Grants and advisory roles further her mission to integrate research with community impact.

Her research has been published in leading journals across developmental psychology, neuroscience, and education. Current projects include longitudinal studies on memory development and the evaluation of parenting tools to enhance child gratitude. She actively mentors students and collaborates with educators to translate research findings into classroom practices.