Kimberly E. Vanderbilt

Dr. Kimberly E. Vanderbilt is a Professor of Psychology at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), affiliated with the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral, and Social Sciences (CHABSS). She joined the department in 2013 after completing her graduate and undergraduate studies at UC San Diego. Her research focuses on social cognitive development, particularly how children evaluate the reliability of information sources and form judgments about others' mental states. She directs the R.O.C.K. S.T.A.R. Lab, which investigates children's social reasoning through community-based studies.

Her work explores critical topics like children’s skepticism toward deceptive sources, trust calibration, and the interplay between theory of mind and inhibitory control. She has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students, many of whom pursue advanced degrees in psychology or clinical fields. Collaborations include studies at the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, emphasizing STEM education outreach.

Key research themes include trust development, source credibility assessment, and cognitive mechanisms underlying social learning. Her lab’s findings contribute to understanding how children navigate social complexity, with implications for educational practices and child development interventions.