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 third-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.

Miranda Salinas is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Developmental Psychology program at Loyola University. Her research interests focus on the social and communicative functions of gesture, with a particular interest in how children use social information about a communicator to guide learning from representational gestures.

Outside interests: traveling, weight lifting, nature, arts and crafts, and socializing

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Salma Ahmad is a senior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience on the pre-med track. She serves as a Conflict Resolution Liaison for the SRCR office and a Peer Tutor, and is part of the Interdisciplinary Honors and Gannon Scholars Programs. Salma hopes to pursue a career in neurology, with an interest in integrating education into healthcare. She is also involved in Friends of MSF, the Honors BIPOC Coalition, and My Book Wish.

Outside interests: reading, drawing, watercolor, coffee and matcha, nature trails

Halima Burke is a junior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience and minoring in Arabic and Bioethics. She aspires to a career in medicine and hopes to earn a certification in medical interpretation. She is part of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, Loyola4Chicago, and the Gannon Scholars Program.

Outside interests: swimming, dance, jazz, exploring the city, spending time with friends"

Anastasia Chostner is a sophomore at Loyola University of Chicago majoring in Psychology. She plans on attending graduate school in hopes of pursuing a career in clinical psychology in hospital settings and aspires to get her Psy.D. She is passionate about treating each person with empathy and compassion now and in her future practice. At school, she is a part of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, Gannon Scholars Program, and Chi Omega Lambda Mu. She is also involved in Mixed Heritage Organization and Loyola Anime Club.

Outside interests: listening to audiobooks while walking, Pilates, gaming, and spending time with friends!

Alex Hurka is a senior 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

Tia Knuth is a junior at Loyola University Chicago pursuing a double major in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. After undergraduate, she hopes to attend graduate school to become a neuroscientific researcher. At school, Tia is in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, Neuroscience Society, and Asian Students in Action (ASIA).

Outside interests: raveling, reading, cooking, tennis, and spending time with friends and family!

Teagan Petek is a junior at Loyola University of Chicago majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience. She is on the pre-med track and plans to attend medical school in hopes to become a Pediatric Neurologist or Psychiatrist. She is a part of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program as well as the women's club basketball team.

Outside interests: traveling, playing basketball, and swimming.

Ryan Sweeney is a senior at Loyola University of Chicago majoring in Psychology and minoring in Spanish. He plans on attending graduate school and becoming a counselor. He is passionate about helping people and hopes to improve the lives of others through his work. At school, he is involved with Campus Programming, Psi Chi, and plays in the percussion ensemble.

Outside interests: music, bouldering, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends

Alyssa Sweis is a junior at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Psychology and minoring in Women’s Studies and Gender Studies. She plans on attending graduate school to become a clinical psychologist after graduation. At school, Alyssa is a part of Active Minds LUC and Alpha Sigma Nu.

Outside interests: weightlifting, reading, exploring the city, jazz, and going to the beach!

Esha Thakker is a senior at Loyola University of 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

Lauren Wurster is a senior at Loyola University of Chicago majoring in Psychology and minoring in Psychology of Crime and Justice. She plans on attending graduate school to become a child psychologist with a main focus on research pertaining to how children learn and develop. On campus, she is the Vice President of Mentorships of Students for Local Education, a student volunteer organization designed to help CPS students grow their socio-emotional and academic skills.

Outside interests: music, yoga, reading, volunteering, nature walks, and spending time with family and friends!

Lab Alumni

Demiana Agaiby (2018-2019): graduate student
Joanna Argionis (2025-2026)
Laura Bottei (2019-2021): graduate student
Maddie Bowers (2023-2025):
Savannah Brizendine (2024-2025):
Clark Brown (2024-2025):
Leah Curtis (2023-2025):
Erin Foy (2019-2021): assistant professor
Lisa Gallo (2022-2026): research coordinator
Allison Haussler (2019-2020): graduate student
Sarah Heimberg (2016-2017): veterinary assistant
Kristina Humphrey (2021-2023): graduate student
Tyler Jaine (2025-2026): assistant preschool teacher
Mady Jurcev (2017-2020): medical resident
Connor Karwowski (2022-2023): research assistant
Jennifer Kavina (2021-2025): medical school student
Erick Larios-Bautista (2016-2017): medical school student
Lucy Maloni (2024-2025):
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): social work/counseling student
Sierra Webber (2021-2023): nursing student
Megan Weiss (2022-2023): medical school student
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)