Dr. Marianella Casasola

Biography

Marianella Casasola is a Professor and Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University's College of Human Ecology. She earned her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Spanish Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Her research expertise lies in infant cognitive development, particularly in early word learning and the interplay between language and thought during the development of young children. In her lab, the Cornell Play Learning Lab, she and her students investigate the dynamics of early cognitive and linguistic development, paying special attention to the emergence of spatial concepts and spatial language acquisition. Recent projects include examining how parental beliefs influence children's learning and spatial language exposure, as well as experimental studies assessing children's ability to learn labels in foreign languages. As an educator, Casasola is committed to fostering critical thinking and writing skills in her students to prepare them for diverse career paths. She actively supports undergraduate research, emphasizing creativity in tackling research questions.

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Experience

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