Priya Mariana Shimpi Driscoll

Priya Mariana Shimpi Driscoll is a Professor of Education and the Holland Chair in Early Childhood Education at Mills College at Northeastern University. She also serves as the Associate Dean of Research and Partnerships. Her roles include directing the Early Childhood Education master’s and bachelor’s programs.

• Education: BA from Indiana University, MA and PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Chicago (2006).

Her research focuses on cultural and environmental influences on children’s social, linguistic, and cognitive development. Key areas include bilingual education planning, cultural language loss, and learning through interactive play in museums and technology-focused environments. She advises educational technology companies on curriculum development and child-robot interaction, with one project recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 Best Inventions.

Dr. Driscoll’s work bridges research and practice, emphasizing the translation of early childhood findings into actionable strategies for diverse learning settings.