I am an Assistant Professor of Psychology at California State University, San Marcos.  I completed my Ph.D. in developmental psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. I was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Chicago.

My research draws upon sociocultural theory to understand the mechanisms of children's learning and education from infancy to middle childhood. My projects investigate how various contexts- such as everyday practices, family attitudes, cultural values, and beliefs- shape the learning and interaction in families from diverse backgrounds.

My name is Sydney Sanchez. I am a senior planning to graduate CSUSM Spring 2026 with my B.A. in Social Science Psychology with secondary fields in both Sociology and Communications. After graduation I plan to continue my education and pursue my PhD in Clinical Psychology in order to become a University Professor and teach the next generation of psychology students. I love people and being a social butterfly as well as sharing knowledge with the people around me. When I’m not nose deep in my studies I love being with my friends, making coffee as a barista, watching movies, and going to concerts or music festivals. 

Hello, my name is Nasrin Shaaban. I recently graduated in Fall 2024 from Cal State University of San Marcos with a B.A. in Psychological Science. I joined Dr. Zhang’s lab in November  2024 to expand my research skills and explore cognitive psychology among multicultural backgrounds. Coming from a multicultural background myself,  I would like to research more about learning beliefs, perception of mental health, access to early intervention, and quality of parent-child relationships across different ethnicities. 

I hope to go to grad school to become a Licensed School Psychologist while also obtaining my licensure to become a Professional Clinical Counselor. I believe all children and adolescents deserve access to quality education while receiving social, emotional, and behavioral support. When I have time I enjoy reading mystery books, making jewelry, hanging out with friends, and trying to learn how to crochet.

Research Assistant -

gomez741@csusm.edu

My name is Erika Gomez, and I am an undergraduate student here at Cal State San Marcos working towards my B.A. in Psychological Science. My career goal is to achieve a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology, specializing in working with children and adolescents. I intend to apply for Cal State San Marcos' Master's program when I graduate in the spring of 2026 in order to continue pursuing my professional objective. 

I am very interested in being a research assistant in the Children's Learning and Cognition Lab at CSUSM because of my passion for understanding how children think, learn, and grow.

Research Assistant -

wilki088@csusm.edu

My name is James Wilkinson and I'm a junior at CSUSM. I just transferred here from Miramar Community College and plan to graduate in 2027 with a bachelors degree in psychology. I am passionate about therapy and want to attain my masters so I can develop my own private practice. I love working with kids and would prefer to work as a marriage and family therapist, who specializes in divorced families. In my free time I like to rock climb with friends and spend as much time as possible at the beach.

Research Assistant -

ochoa211@csusm.edu

My name is Alyah Ochoa and I am an undergraduate student pursuing my B.A. in Psychological Science. After I graduate, I hope to further my education and attend a graduate program for school psychology in order to later become a Licensed School Psychologist. I have always had a passion for working with children and learning about their behaviors. I am excited to learn more through working in this lab. In my free time, I love thrifting, spending time with my friends, and trying new coffee places.  

Research Assistant -

rioso003@csusm.edu

My name is Adali Rios. I am an undergraduate student working toward my B.A. in Psychological Science with a minor in Communications at California State University San Marcos. After graduating, I plan to attend graduate school to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. After my master’s degree, I plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology in order to become a child psychologist. I am looking forward to learning more about children's development and way of thinking through the CLC lab. In my free time I like to go to the beach, trying out new hikes, watching movies, and hanging out with family and friends.

Research Assistant -

sabol003@csusm.edu

My name is Megan Sabol, and I am currently an undergraduate student working towards my B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development. After graduation, I plan on obtaining a Master’s Degree in Child Life in hopes of becoming a Child Life Specialist. I am excited to be a research assistant in the The Child Learning and Cognition lab, where I hope to learn more about the research process. I enjoy working with children and learning about how their environments shape who they are and how they learn. I love working with children because of their creativity, imagination, and the joy they find in the ordinary things. Through this position, I hope to help children find that same joy in learning. 

Research Assistant -

palom094@csusm.edu

My name is Tatiana Palomares, and I am a third-year undergraduate student at CSUSM working toward my B.A. in Psychological Science. After graduation, I hope to pursue graduate school and become a licensed school psychologist. I joined the CLC Lab to gain research experience outside of the classroom and learn more about children’s and adolescents’ behaviors and how they connect to their development. I’m excited to gain hands-on experience and learn more about the research process through the lab. In my free time, I enjoy journaling, thrifting, trying new coffee shops, and scrapbooking.