Jessica Kilday, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Missouri

Welcome! I earned my PhD in education and psychology from the University of Michigan. Currently, I am a postdoctoral research fellow in the Prosocial Development and Education Research Lab. 

My work is related to two urgent challenges in education: helping students feel socially connected and supported at school — both by teachers and peers — and giving educators the tools and support they need to build positive learning environments where students help one another and have opportunities to thrive. 

As a former middle school teacher, I experienced first-hand how students’ interactions with their teacher, and with each other, plays a powerful role in how they feel about themselves, their learning, and school. In recent years, teacher burnout has surged¹, student behavior concerns are rising², and nearly half of educators say it’s a struggle to keep students interested in learning³. These conditions can strain social relationships at school. 

My research aims to strengthen school-based social support systems by understanding how relationships and classroom environments influence student outcomes. I am especially interested in middle school and other transitional periods, when students face new challenges that can have lasting effects on their development. 

On this website, you can find more information about me, including research, teaching, and areas of expertise.

• Expertise
• Research
• Teaching
• Curriculum Vitae

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