Jennifer Van Reet

Jennifer Van Reet is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Providence College. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Virginia (2008) and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas (2002). Her academic work is centered on cognitive and developmental psychology, with a focus on early childhood cognition.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Virginia, 2008
• B.A. in Psychology, University of Texas, 2002

Her research explores how young children understand pretense, moral reasoning, and executive functioning. She investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying pretend play, symbolic representation, and inhibitory control in toddlers and preschoolers. Her work integrates developmental theory with empirical research to understand the emergence of higher-order cognitive skills.

The analysis of her recent scholarly contributions reveals a consistent focus on pretense and its relationship with cognitive development. Her articles explore subtopics such as visual perspective in pretend scenarios, moral reasoning transfer into pretend contexts, and the role of inhibitory control in facilitating pretense. These works span journals like Infant and Child Development, Cognitive Development, and Journal of Cognition and Development, highlighting her expertise in developmental cognitive psychology.

Jennifer Van Reet has secured multiple research grants, primarily from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the RI-INBRE program, as well as internal institutional funding. She has served actively in professional service roles, including as a committee member and chair in various academic committees from 2009 to 2019.

She advises students and contributes to academic mentoring, though specific student names are not listed. Her research has practical implications for early childhood education and developmental assessment. She is affiliated with research networks focused on child development and cognitive science.