Our Team | Movement & Learning Lab

Lab Director

Dr. Elizabeth Wakefield is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Loyola University Chicago and director of the Movement & Learning Lab. Dr. Wakefield earned her B.A. from Kalamazoo College and her Ph.D. from Indiana University. She continued her training as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago, before joining the faculty at Loyola.

Dr. Wakefield employs behavioral and eye tracking methods to understand how children and adults process and learn through different forms of movement experience: actions and gestures. Learn more about research happening in the lab by visiting "Our Research"!

Outside interests: cooking, baking, singing, friends, and family

Graduate Students

Katie Mathias is a first year Ph.D. student in the Developmental Psychology program at Loyola University. Her research interests are focused on how neurotypical and neurodiverse children learn, with an emphasis on how movement and gesture support the learning process.

Outside Interests: musical theater, cross stitch, yoga, and spending time with friends, family, and her cats.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

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Maddie Bowers is a senior at Loyola University of Chicago and a Psychology and Music double major. She hopes to attend graduate school to become a child psychologist. She is in the interdisciplinary honors program and is heavily involved in the music program at Loyola. She enjoys being outside and hopes to incorporate her love of nature into her future career path.

Outside Interests: piano, field hockey, camping, hiking, traveling, music

Savannah Brizendine is a junior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Psychology and minoring in Criminal Justice & Criminology. She is interested in attending graduate school to become a school psychologist. On campus she is involved in the new Wellness Wolfpack organization and LUPA. Outside of Loyola she spends time tutoring children at a local school and volunteering at Chicago HOPES for Kids.

Outside Interests: music, creative writing, reading, volleyball, thrifting, and spending time with friends!

Clark Brown is a junior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Psychology. He is also on the pre-med track and plans to attend medical school to become a family physician. Additionally, he is in the interdisciplinary honors program and the student environmental alliance. Outside of class, he works as a Rehab Aide for Athletico.

Outside interests: Travel, plants, vintage clothes, baking, crotchet, and exercise

Leah Curtis is a senior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Psychology and minoring in Behavioral and Cognitive neuroscience. She is interested in pursuing pediatric neuropsychology or going into social work. On campus, she is involved in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, club lacrosse, Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority, and is a volunteer leader for Loyola4Chicago.

Outside interests: Reading, backpacking, photography, thrifting, sushi, and spending time with friends and family!"

Lisa Gallo is a junior at Loyola University of Chicago and a Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience major. She is on the Pre-Med track and hopes to become a Neurosurgeon. She is in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and is involved in on-campus organizations such as Neuroscience Society, AMSA, AMWA, and Brain Exercise Initiative.

Outside Interests: traveling, viola, field hockey, music, and running

Alex Hurka is a sophomore at Loyola University of Chicago and is double majoring in Psychology and Anthropology with a minor in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience. He is hoping to pursue either clinical psychology or forensic anthropology after Loyola. He is also part of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and is involved with the Loyola Learning and Memory Association and Food Recovery Network.

Outside Interests: tennis, reading, art, playing and listening to music

Jennifer Kavina is a senior at Loyola University Chicago double majoring in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. She is on the Pre-Med track in hopes of becoming a pediatrician. She is in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and is also involved in organizations on campus such as the Gannon Scholars Program, Friends of MSF, and HOSA!

Outside interests: traveling, playing basketball, and swimming.

Lucy Maloni is a is a senior with a Psychology major and Spanish minor. She hopes to go on to graduate school to fine tune her interest in therapy practices, and eventually become a childhood psychologist. Ideally, she will learn to incorporate music into her practice, as she enjoys playing piano in her time outside of class.

Outside interests: piano, spending time outside, puzzles, arts and crafts"

Esha Thakkur is a sophomore at Loyola University of Chicago a sophomore at Loyola University Chicago and a Cognitive/Behavioral Neuroscience major with a Healthcare Administration minor. She is on the pre-med track and hopes to pursue a career in medicine with interests in the fields of pediatrics and neurology. She is involved in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, Loyola 4 Chicago, and Heart for the Unhoused.

Outside interests: traveling, badminton, kayaking, music, and painting

Lab Alumni

Demiana Agaiby (2018-2019): graduate student
Laura Bottei (2019-2021): graduate student
Erin Foy (2019-2021): graduate student
Allison Haussler (2019-2020): graduate student
Sarah Heimberg (2016-2017): veterinary assistant
Kristina Humphrey (2021-2023): research assistant
Mady Jurcev (2017-2020): medical school student
Connor Karwowski (2022-2023)
Erick Larios-Bautista (2016-2017): medical school student
Chloe Michel (2021-2024)
Mary Nagai (2020-2022)
Dylan Nelson (2020-2021)
Kiril Nikolovski (2020-2021): dental school student
Aashi Patel (2022-2024)
Agna Patel (2020-2022)
Krupa Patel (2021-2022)
Tori Roberts (2019-2021)
Natalie Schomas (2016-2017): film freelancer
Mariana Sosa (2019-2020): graduate student
Sam Spain (2020-2022)
Sasha Stojanovich (2017-2019): assistant teacher - loyola university preschool
Emma Tumminaro (2021-2022)
Sierra Webber (2021-2023): grant coordinator
Megan Weiss (2022-2023)
Gina Wrolstad (2018-2019): search coordinator and office manager - koya partners
Natalia Zielinski (2018-2021): graduate student

External Collaborators

We also have wonderful research collaborators:

Dr. Susan Goldin-Meadow (University of Chicago)
Dr. Miriam Novack (Northwestern University)
Dr. Eliza Congdon (Williams College)
Dr. Lauren Howard (Franklin & Marshall College)