Stephanie Carlson

Stephanie Carlson is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Associate Director of the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on executive function (EF) in early childhood, including its neural basis, measurement, and cultivation through play, parenting, and education.

• Degree: PhD in Developmental Psychology (1997, University of Oregon).
• Key Research Areas: Cognitive development, EF, play, parenting, and STEM learning readiness.

Her work includes developing the Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS) for preschoolers and evaluating EF interventions like the Ready Set Go! program. Recent publications explore EF assessment tools, choice in toddler cognition, and pandemic impacts on child development.

Scientific Awards:

• Distinguished McKnight University Professor.

• Keynote speaker at National Hsing Hua University (2023) and Harvard Graduate School of Education (2023).
• Collaborator on NIH Toolbox Executive Function measures.

She is actively involved in advising PhD students (accepting new advisees in 2026) and leads the Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab.