Head of UConn K.I.D.S

Dr. Rhiannon Smith is the Head of UConn K.I.D.S. Dr. Smith studies friendships and other peer relationships in childhood and adolescence. She is interested in the role that these relationships play in youths’ social and emotional adjustment, including depression and anxiety. Dr. Smith’s research investigates the development of social cognition and empathy in friendships. She also is interested in diversity in peer relations, including cross-race/ethnicity friendships and the peer group experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth.

 

 

Child Research Recruitment Coordinator

Renu Cabot is the Child Research Recruitment Coordinator for UConn K.I.D.S. She is a UConn alumnus and graduated with her Bachelors in Human Development and Family Studies and earned her Masters in Public Administration at UConn School of Public Policy. You can meet her at the various community events and fairs in Connecticut when you visit our UConn K.I.D.S booth.

 

 

 

Our Research Assistants

Erin Mulroy is a Fall 2025 UConn KIDS research assistant. She is a sophomore Physiology and Neurobiology major and Spanish minor. After graduation, she plans on attending medical school to become a pediatric neurologist.

Jenna Coplon is a Fall 2025 research assistant for UConn KIDS. She is a junior Allied Health Science major with minors in Human Development & Family Sciences and Molecular & Cell Biology. On campus she is involved in UConn Dance Company, HuskyTHON, the Pre-Med society, and also works at the Child Development Labs. After graduation, she plans to attend Medical School to become a Pediatrician. 

 

 

Angelina Stofka is a Fall 2025 research assistant for UConn KIDS. She is a senior majoring in Psychological Sciences and minoring in Human Development & Family Sciences and is in the Early Childhood Specializations program. After graduation, she plans on attending graduate school to become a counselor for young children and their families.