Dr. Melzer became a faculty member at Sacred Heart University in the Fall of 2009. Before joining the psychology department she taught at Adelphi University, Stonehill College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst teaching both traditional and online classes. She encourages an interactive classroom and strives to create an environment in which students feel comfortable expressing their ideas to enhance classroom discussions. She incorporates her research experience with young children into her classes and looks forward to collaborating with her students as she begins her research program here at Sacred Heart.

-Ph.D. and M.S. University of Massachusetts at Amherst

-B.A. State University of New York at Binghamton

Teaching Responsibilities:

-Child Development

-Lifespan Development

-Introduction to Psychology

-Research Methods

Research interests:

Cognitive development, specifically how young children understand and interpret other people’s thoughts and behaviors. Other topics include language development, effects of media on cognitive abilities and later adolescent body image and self esteem.