Cheyeon Ha’s Journey at the Education Collaboratory

As the 2024–2025 academic year comes to a close, the Education Collaboratory celebrates Cheyeon Ha, PhD, postdoctoral associate at Yale Child Study Center, for her dedicated contributions to the lab. Since joining the team, Ha has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to equity-focused research, collaborative scholarship, and culturally responsive approaches to education—hallmarks of her work that will continue to inspire and guide the field as she prepares for the next chapter of her professional journey.

Ha joined the Education Collaboratory as a postdoctoral associate in August 2022 following the completion of her PhD in educational psychology and learning systems at Florida State University. During her dissertation training, she volunteered as a research intern with Christina Cipriano, PhD, EdM, director of the Education Collaboratory, supporting the team’s registered meta-analysis of social and emotional learning (SEL).

Prior to pursuing her doctoral degree, Ha was an elementary school teacher in South Korea. With a deep commitment to educational equity, Dr. Ha’s research has focused on understanding and supporting the social, emotional, and academic development of K–12 students, particularly those from historically underrepresented and underserved communities.

Her scholarship has centered on inclusive learning, culturally relevant pedagogy, and the development of school-based interventions that affirm student identity and foster belonging. During her time at Yale, she contributed across multiple projects and initiatives, including the team’s seminal meta-analyses of SEL, investigations of universal design for SEL, and the development of the Compass tool for social and emotional teaching.

Advancing Equity through Emotionally Responsive Education

Throughout her tenure at the Education Collaboratory, Ha played a pivotal role in bridging research and practice, publishing 18 peer-reviewed research articles. Her recent work highlights the importance of teacher autonomy in reducing burnout and enhancing job satisfaction, as well as how culturally relevant reading instruction can shape both academic and social-emotional outcomes for students. With a mixed-methods approach to studying human development, Ha has consistently elevated the perspectives of both educators and students in her research.

Ha’s scholarship extends to several presentations while she was with the Education Collaboratory. Most recently, she presented at the 2025 American Educational Research Association/National Council on Measurement in Education (AERA/NCME) Conference in Denver on how SEL can drive student academic achievement and well-being in today's political climate, sharing new empirical findings on SEL's impact on academic and mental health outcomes alongside lab colleagues.

A Thoughtful Collaborator

Ha’s expertise in R and statistical analysis made her an invaluable resource to the lab's team, always ready to support others with data challenges or methodological questions.

Whether facilitating discussions on research methodology, mentoring junior lab members, or bringing warmth to team meetings, Ha modeled the values of curiosity, equity, and care that define our collaborative culture.

Looking Ahead

As Ha looks to the future, she brings with her a portfolio of rigorous research, a passion for inclusive education, and a vision for advancing equity in schools and communities. Her expertise and commitment will no doubt be a transformative asset to her next academic appointment. Her contributions to the Education Collaboratory are deeply appreciated, and her continued impact in the field will be followed with great interest.