Deborah is a graduate student in the developmental psychology PhD program at the University of Denver. She received her B.S. in Human Development with a concentration in neuroscience at Cornell University in 2017. Before coming to DU, Deborah worked at a non-profit called Child Trends, where she conducted policy-relevant research in early childhood topics such as child care access and quality, positive parenting practices, and social-emotional development. Her research interests include the effects of early adversity and stress on children's development, and social buffering as a protective factor. She is also interested in the development and evaluation of high-quality early care and education programs, policies, and practices.