Christina Cipriano, Ph.D., holds a dual appointment at the Yale School of Medicine as Assistant Professor of Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Yale Child Study Center and Director of Research at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (YCEI). Dr. Cipriano’s research focuses on the systematic examination of social and emotional learning (SEL) in the promotion of pathways to optimal developmental outcomes for traditionally marginalized student and teacher populations.

Dr. Cipriano has extensive experience working in classrooms and schools, providing training to teachers and support staff, and direct instruction to students. As the Director of Research at the YCEI, Dr. Cipriano oversees, designs, and maintains large-scale basic and applied research studies on: emotions, emotional intelligence, and SEL, including longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials. Dr. Cipriano has a wealth of project management experience as the PI and Director of numerous major grants supporting the development and validation of SEL assessments, classroom observation practices, and SEL evaluation and efficacy trials. 

Dr. Cipriano received her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College, her Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and undergraduate degree from Hofstra University. Dr. Cipriano is a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar and the mother of four beautiful children who inspire her every day to take the moon and make it shine for everyone. You can learn more about her work at @drchriscip and drchriscip.com.