Dr. Erin O Connor

Biography

Erin O'Connor is a Full Professor in the Department of Education at New York University, where she directs the Early Childhood Education program. She holds a Doctorate in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and has earned Master's degrees in teaching from Fordham University and in school psychology from Columbia University. Erin actively collaborates with teachers in New York City schools, leading professional development seminars. She is a co-founder of Nested, a nonprofit focused on advancing family wellbeing through research-driven solutions. Additionally, she serves as the Chief Education Officer at Cooper, a platform that connects parents, researchers, and teachers to address issues in child development. Erin co-hosts a parenting podcast, Parenting Understood, where she discusses important aspects of parenting and child development. Her research interests center on perinatal mental health, the dynamics between birthing and non-birthing parents, and how these relationships affect children's development in early and middle childhood. She conducts randomized control trials on interventions aimed at building relationships and enhancing language and social development for children in low-income families. Erin has published extensively in educational psychology journals and her work is supported by grants from various institutions, including the Institute of Education Sciences. She is a member of the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, and the Society for Research in Child Development.

Research Interests