Rebecca M Ryan

Rebecca M Ryan is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Georgetown University, holding a primary appointment in the College. Her research bridges developmental psychology and public policy, focusing on the impact of socioeconomic disadvantage on children’s environments and well-being. She co-developed interventions like Connect to Baby and evaluates programs such as the Power Packs food assistance initiative. Her work emphasizes parent-child interactions and economic disparities affecting family dynamics.

Educations:

• Columbia University – Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology (2006)
• Harvard University – M.Ed. (Year unspecified)
• Princeton University – B.A. (Year unspecified)

Research Interests:

• Socioeconomic disadvantage and child development
• Parenting practices in at-risk contexts
• Food insecurity and public policy
• Intergenerational inequality

Her lab, the Context, Development & Social Policy Lab, aims to identify strategies supporting equitable child development through research, practice, and policy.

Grants & Funding: Continuously supported by NIH, NSF, Russell Sage Foundation, and W.T. Grant Foundation. Recent work explores interventions addressing poverty, education, and family well-being.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Context, Development & Social Policy Lab, focused on equity-driven research to improve outcomes for marginalized youth. Current projects include mixed-methods evaluations of food assistance programs and parenting interventions.