Dana Miller-Cotto is an Assistant Professor in the Berkeley School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley within the Learning Sciences and Human Development (LSHD) cluster. Before joining Berkeley, she was an Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences at Kent State University.
Her research examines how children learn and how educational environments shape their thinking. Whether children are solving mathematics problems, interacting with teachers, using classroom materials, or learning with emerging technologies, she investigates how these experiences support, or sometimes interfere with, their ability to think, learn, and solve problems independently. Much of her work focuses on executive functions, the cognitive processes that support attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-regulation. Rather than viewing these abilities as fixed traits, she studies how classrooms, instructional materials, assessments, and other educational supports influence how children use these cognitive resources during learning.
A central goal of Dr. Miller-Cotto's research is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. She examines why some children, particularly Black and Latine children and those growing up in under-resourced communities, face greater barriers to educational opportunity, and how educators can design learning environments that recognize children's strengths rather than simply measuring their challenges as ways to leverage opportunity. Her work bridges developmental science and educational practice by developing new ways to understand children's thinking in authentic learning environments and by identifying instructional approaches that help all children think deeply, learn confidently, and reach their full potential. Her research is guided by a commitment to ensuring that the experiences, strengths, and cultural backgrounds of minoritized students are reflected in the ways schools teach, assess, and support learning.
Dr. Miller-Cotto's research has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of Educational Psychology, Developmental Review, Developmental Psychology, and Learning and Individual Differences. In 2024, she was recognized as an Association for Psychological Science Rising Star. Her research has been supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Brady Education Foundation, the Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood, and the Society for Research in Child Development. Her work has also been featured in The Washington Post, EdSurge, and Edutopia.
Miller-Cotto is a proud product of the New York City public school system, where she was shaped by the support of dedicated educators and mentors. She earned her undergraduate degree from the City University of New York (CUNY), the nation’s largest urban public university system and a powerful engine of social mobility, before completing her graduate training at Temple University. Her own educational journey informs her deep commitment to the power and promise of accesible public education.
