Carolyn Liesen

As a developmental psychologist, my area of focus is on the development of individuals across the lifespan. My research background in Human Development and Family Studies provides a unique, interdisciplinary perspective of examining child development within contextual systems, incorporating both psychological and sociological processes. When developing in my career, I found passion in teaching, which is why I was drawn to Monmouth College, a liberal arts institution which fosters the unique relationships between faculty and students.

My research interests span multiple areas of child development and family functioning, but primarily focus on children’s development in early childhood. My current projects all have a common theme of using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory to examine the interplay between individual characteristics of the child and various contextual influences to determine how these interactions contribute to children’s development, especially in the context of parenting and early childhood experiences.

B.A. in Psychology – Saint Louis University, 2013
Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies – University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019

PSYC 201: Research Methods I: Statistics
PSYC 202: Research Methods II: Design
PSYC 221: Lifespan Development
PSYC 334: Stereotypes and Prejudice
PSYC 336: Social Influences on Child Development
PSYC415: Readings in Psychology
PSYC420: Research Seminar