Dr. Margaret Kerr

Biography

Margaret Kerr is an Associate Professor in the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing her research on the emotional experiences associated with parenthood. Her work examines various factors that influence how adults perceive their parenting experiences, covering themes such as attachment, parental burnout, and societal expectations. She has a particular interest in understanding real-time emotional experiences of parents during their interactions, with an emphasis on promoting anti-racist parenting practices. Through her research, Margaret aims to enhance family resiliency and promote social justice by developing and implementing parent-focused interventions that improve parents’ experiences and relationships with their children, as well as foster skills for raising equity-minded children. Her recent publications delve into the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents and explore the nuanced emotional experiences of fathers parenting toddlers. Margaret holds a PhD in Human Ecology with a focus on Human Development and Family Studies from Claremont Graduate University, and she completed her BS in Psychology at Michigan State University.

Research Interests