Geerdts 1
Megan Geerdts, Ph.D.
CONTACT INFORMATION
24 Court St
Flemington, NJ 08822
Email:
Phone: (848) 248-5367
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
2016-currentAssistant Professor, Psychology Department
William Paterson University
2015-2016Assistant Professor, Psychology Department
Chestnut Hill College
2014-2015Postdoctoral Fellow
D.U.C.K. Lab: Development and Understanding of Children’s Knowledge (Faculty PIs: Stuart Marcovitch and Janet Boseovski)
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
EDUCATION
2014 Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology
Child Research Labs
(Co-Advisors: Dr. Gretchen Van de Walleand Dr. Vanessa LoBue)
Rutgers University- Newark
2012 M.A. in Cognitive Psychology
(Advisor: Dr. Gretchen Van de Walle)
Rutgers University- Newark
2009B.A. in Developmental Psychology
Magna Cum Laude and Departmental Honors
The College of New Jersey
PUBLICATIONS
Geerdts, M., Van de Walle, G. A., & LoBue, V. (in press). Using animals to teach children biology: Exploring the use of biological explanations in children’s anthropomorphic storybooks. Early Education and Development. doi: 10.1080/10409289.2016.1174052
Geerdts, M. (2016). (Un)Real animals: Anthropomorphism and early learning about animals. Child Development Perspectives, 10(1), 10-14. doi:10.1111/cdep.12153
Geerdts, M., Van de Walle, G. A., & LoBue, V. (2015). Daily animal exposure and children’s biological concepts. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 130, 132-146.doi:10.1016/j.jecp.2014.10.001
Geerdts, M.,Van de Walle, G. A.,LoBue, V. (2015). Learning about real animals from anthropomorphic media. Imagination, Cognition, and Personality. Published online before print. doi:10.1177/0276236615611798
Geerdts, M.,Van de Walle, G. A.,LoBue, V. (2015). Parent-child interaction about animals ininformal learning environments.Visitor Studies, 18(1), 39-63.doi:10.1080/10645578.2015.1016366
Manuscripts under review
Geerdts, M.,Blacker, K. A., LoBue, V. (under review).Learning about contagion: Using storybooks to encourage children’s behavioral avoidance of germs.
Manuscripts in revision
Geerdts, M. & LoBue, V. (in revision). Educational child-directed media: Linking parental beliefs about educational media to actual media behaviors.
Geerdts, M., Van de Walle, G. A., & LoBue, V. (in revision). Parent-child interaction in novel object categorization.
Manuscripts in preparation
Geerdts, M., LoBue V. (in preparation). “He’s icky”: Fear and disgust in parent-child conversations about reptiles.
Geerdts, M., Marcovitch, S., & Boseovski, J. (in preparation). Storybooks and zoo docents: Exploring children’s memory for novel information about unfamiliar animals from different sources
Geerdts, M., Marcovitch, S., & Boseovski, J. (in preparation). Scary snakes and cuddly frogs: How storybook information can shape children’s fear and approach behavior towards “real” animals
Geerdts, M.Stricker, S.* (in preparation). Relationships between women’s personality characteristics and their perception of the birthing experience.
*Undergraduate Student Author
INVITED TALKS AND COLLOQUIA
Geerdts, M. (2015, November). “Learning about animals and biology from anthropomorphic media.” Talk given to the Institute for Research in Cognitive Science. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Geerdts, M. (2015, April). “Young Children’s Learning from Storybooks.” Talk given in the Experimental Psychology Program’s Hard Data Café Lecture Series, UNCG, Greensboro, NC.
Geerdts, M. (2015, April). “Studying Learning in Museum Settings.” Departmental Brown Bag talk given to the Museum Studies Program, UNCG, Greensboro, NC.
CHAIRED CONFERENCE SYMPOSIUM
Geerdts, M. (2015, October). Learning outside the lab: Factors that contribute to memory and learning in informal learning environments. Chair of paper symposium presented at the Cognitive Development Society biennialmeeting, Columbus, Ohio. Speakers: Brooke Miller, Dr. Janet Boseovski, & Dr. Megan Geerdts: Discussant: Dr. David Uttal.
CONFERENCE TALKS
Geerdts, M. & LoBue, V. (2016, June). Snakes and salamanders: How parents help children determine whether an animal isthreatening. Paper be presented at the Jean Piaget Society annual meeting, Chicago, IL.
Geerdts, M. & Marcovitch, S. (2015, October). The effect of anthropomorphic language on learning about zoo animals. Paper presented at the Cognitive Development Society biennialmeeting, Columbus, Ohio.
Pathman, T., Boseovski, J., Marcovitch, S., Geerdts, M., Marble, K., Scales, M., Stark, J., & Chen, Y. (2015, October).Children's selective trust and retention of information from educators and parents in a science center setting.Paper presented atthe Cognitive Development Society biennialmeeting, Columbus, Ohio.
LoBue, V., Blacker, K. A., Geerdts, M. (2015, March). Children’s behavioral avoidance of contagion. Talk presented at biennialmeeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA
CONFERENCE POSTERS
Geerdts, M.& LoBue, V. (2015, October). "I don't like snakes": Exploring parent-child conversations about threat-relevantanimals in a zoo. Poster presented at the Cognitive Development Society biennialmeeting, Columbus, Ohio.
Geerdts, M., Blacker, K. A., LoBue, V. (2015, March). “Achoo!: Using a Storybook Intervention to Increase Children’s Contagion Knowledge and Illness Avoidance.” Poster presented at biennialmeeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
Geerdts, M. & Van de Walle, G. (2013, October). “The Effects of Daily Animal Exposure on Children’s Biological Concepts.” Poster presented at biennial meeting of the Cognitive Development Society, Memphis, TN.
Geerdts, M., Kim, V., & Van de Walle, G. (2013, April). “Biological Explanations in Parent-Child Storybook Reading.” Poster presented at biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.
Geerdts, M. & Kim, V. (2012, October). “The Relation of Shared Storybook Reading to Children’s Biological Understanding of Inheritance.” Poster presented at annual meeting of the New England Psychological Association, Worcester, MA.
Geerdts, M. & Van de Walle, G. (2011, May). “Parent-Child Interaction about Biological Entities in Informal Learning Environments.” Poster presented at annual meeting of the American Psychological Society, Washington, D.C.
Geerdts, M. & Van de Walle, G. (2011, April). “Parent-Child Interaction in Novel Object Categorization.” Poster presented at biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, Canada.
Geerdts, M. & Ruddy, M. (2009, May). “This is a Blue Truck: Looking at Parent-Child Social Interaction and its Relationship to Language Development.” Poster presented at Pace University Psychology Conference, Pace University, NY.
Geerdts, M., Roche, B., Shah, P., & Taormina, A. (2007, May). “Broaden-and-Build Effect of Emotion on Creative Thinking.” Poster presented at Celebration of Student Achievement, The College of New Jersey.
AWARDS AND ACADEMIC HONORS
2016Faculty Development Research Release Time Award, Chestnut Hill College
2013Graduate Student Excellence Award, Rutgers University-Newark GSGA.
2013Communication Excellence in Scholarship Competition Audience Choice Winner, Graduate School Rutgers University-Newark.
2013Colin Beer Distinguished Teaching Award, Rutgers University-Newark
2012Teaching Assistant of the Year Award, Rutgers University-Newark, Psychology Department, May 2012.
2009Distinguished Poster Award, Pace University Psychology Conference.
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2016Faculty Development Travel Grant, Chestnut Hill College.
2013Publishing Collaborations Initiative Research Award, Rutgers University Graduate School-Newark.
Parent’s Preferences for Educational Claims in Infant Media
2013Dissertation Research Award, Rutgers University-Newark
Anthropomorphic Media and Children’s Biological Knowledge
2013Dissertation Fellowship, Rutgers University-Newark.
2009Daniel S. Lehrman Fellowship, Rutgers University-Newark.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SERVICE
Professional Societies
American Psychological Association (APA)Division7: Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Development Society
Jean Piaget Society
New England Psychological Association
New York Academy of Sciences
Society for Research in Child Development
Society for the Teaching of Psychology (APADivision2)
Association for Psychological Science
Ad-Hoc Journal Reviews
Child Development Perspectives
Frontiers in Developmental Psychology
Infant and Child Development
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
Society & Animals
Visitor Studies
Ad-Hoc Textbook Reviews
Mitchell, P. & Ziegler, F. (2013).Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology, 2nd Ed. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis Psychology Press.
Berger, K. (2012). The Developing Person through Childhood and Adolescence, 9thEd. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Leadership and University Service
Faculty Senate Member, Chestnut Hill College, September 2015-May 2016.
Psychology Club Advisor, Chestnut Hill College, September 2015-current.
Rutgers University Strategic Planning, Student Focus Group, Newark Campus, February 2013.
Rutgers University Senate, Newark Graduate School Senator, 2012- 2013.
Rutgers-Newark Governing Council, Graduate Student Representative, 2011-2013.
Community Advisory Board, Rutgers University-Newark, Member, 2011.
Rutgers One Coalition, Action Team Member, 2011-2013.
Rutgers University AAUP-AFT TA/GA Steering Committee, Newark Member, 2011-2013.
Rutgers University AAUP-AFT TA/GA Organizing Fellow, April 2011-October 2011.
Graduate Student Government Association, Rutgers University-Newark, President, 2010- 2012.
Psi Chi, The College of New Jersey, chapter President, 2008- 2009.
Psychology Club, The College of New Jersey, Secretary and Peer Mentor, 2008- 2009.
Course and Career Advising Committee, The College of New Jersey, 2007- 2009.
Honor Societies
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Golden Key International Honor Society
Psi Chi, the National Honor Society for Psychology
TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION
2016Faculty Development Workshop Series: Programmatic Assessment; Technology in the Classroom; Autism on the Spectrum and in the Classroom; Diversity Awareness in the Classroom; Chestnut Hill College.
2015Faculty Teaching & Learning Commons (FTLC) Grant Resources Workshop Series; UNCG.
2013Doctoral Fellowship Workshop Series; Rutgers University - Newark.
2012Doctoral Student Professional Development Program; Rutgers University.
2012Teach Assistant Project (TAP) Workshop Series; Rutgers University.
2010Teaching Assistant Workshop;Rutgers - Newark.
2009Responsible Conduct of Research Workshop;Rutgers - Newark.
COURSES TAUGHT
Child Psychopathology
Children and the Media
Developmental Psychology
General Psychology
Methods of Psychological Research (Research Methods in Psychology)
Psychology of Child Development
Senior Seminar in Psychology
Social Psychology