Welcome!

I’m an applied developmental psychologist and a NIMH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow in the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. I study how parents, teachers, and communities shape children’s learning and well-being across global contexts, with the goal to produce evidence to strengthen caregiving systems so that all children have the opportunity to thrive.

I earned a Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition to my academic training, I have apprenticed in the Office of Community Services and worked as a program evaluator for AdoptUSKids at The University of Texas at Austin.

To learn more about my work, chat about shared interests, or explore potential collaborations, you can reach me at noellems@umn.edu.

I am on the 2025-26 job market.