Katherine Zinsser

Katherine Zinsser is a Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), housed within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on early childhood education systems, social-emotional development, and policies shaping young children's learning environments. She directs the Social-Emotional Teaching and Learning (SETL) Lab, which develops observational tools like the EMOTERS scale to assess emotion-focused teaching practices. Dr. Zinsser co-leads the UIC Alternative Licensure Program (ALP), the nation’s first residency-based teacher preparation program emphasizing social-emotional pedagogy to diversify the early childhood workforce. She holds a PhD from George Mason University (2013), alongside MA (2010) and BA (2005) degrees from Smith College.

Her research bridges theory and practice through multi-method investigations of teacher-child interactions, classroom climate, and systemic supports for educators. Key contributions include analyzing preschool expulsion trends, advocating for policy changes (e.g., Illinois Public Act 100-0105), and publishing No Longer Welcome: The Epidemic of Early Childhood Expulsion. Dr. Zinsser’s work often engages communities through partnerships with schools and policymakers, emphasizing equity and cultural responsiveness.

• Education: PhD in Developmental Psychology (George Mason University, 2013); MA (George Mason, 2010); BA (Smith College, 2005)
• Grants: Over $5 million in funding from RWJF, US Department of Education, and Spencer Foundation, including leadership roles in grants like the $3.5M Teacher Quality Partnership Grant
• Public Engagement: Op-eds in Chicago Tribune advocating for childcare reforms and policy evaluations on expulsion legislation

Her teaching spans undergraduate (PSCH 320: Developmental Psychology) and graduate courses (e.g., Lifespan Development, Mixed-Methods Research). Students in her lab gain hands-on experience in observational research, qualitative analysis, and community-engaged scholarship. Current projects explore trauma-informed teacher coaching, emotion-focused teaching across activity settings, and the ALP’s impact on workforce diversity.

• Labs/Teams: SETL Lab, UIC College of Education ALP Program
• Future Work: Expanding EMOTERS tool applications, longitudinal studies on expulsion prevention, and diversifying early childhood education pipelines