Jill Hamm

Jill Hamm is the Dean and William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) within the UNC School of Education. Her academic roles include affiliations with the Applied Developmental Science and Special Education (ADSSE) and Learning Sciences and Psychological Studies (LSPS) departments. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has held faculty positions since 1999, progressing to full Professor in 2014.

Her research focuses on peer relationships in adolescent development, school-based interventions, and informal learning environments. Current projects include NSF-funded CASCADE, investigating collaborative skills in STEM careers, and Hidden No More, studying museum exhibits featuring underrepresented scientists. She leads or co-leads over $3 million in grants, emphasizing rural education and teacher professional development.

Hamm has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, with recent work on classroom social dynamics, teacher attunement, and bullying prevention. She advises numerous graduate students and serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. Her professional service includes roles at the UNC School of Education and national organizations.

Her teaching spans doctoral seminars in adolescent development and courses on educational psychology. She mentors students in research areas such as peer networks and school transitions. Her lab focuses on creating supportive classroom environments and evidence-based strategies for educators.