Kristin Simmers, Forman School’s inaugural Director of Cognition and Learning, earned her Ph.D. in Learning Sciences from the University of Connecticut in June 2026.
Kristin joined Forman at the start of the 2025-2026 school year and leads the development and implementation of external-facing programming and research opportunities designed to extend Forman’s reach as a leader in education for neurodiverse learners. She also serves on the school’s Senior Leadership Team.
Her doctoral research focused on teachers’ understanding of the brain and learning, as well as teacher-researcher partnerships. These areas closely align with her work at Forman and the school’s commitment to research-informed education.
Kristin expresses her gratitude to her dissertation committee and to the many people who made her time at UConn memorable, including the student-athletes she worked with as an Academic Coach and Mentor.
“I was very fortunate to be in a transdisciplinary program that allowed me to work across traditional disciplines, including neuroscience, cognitive science, and education,” she says. “The best part of the experience for me was putting all of the research into practice by working with student athletes, helping them discover how they learned best, and watching them succeed.”
As Director of Cognition and Learning, Kristin is helping Forman build opportunities to connect educators, researchers, and other professionals around how students with learning differences learn best. Her expertise in learning sciences will continue to support Forman’s efforts to advance research-informed practices and share knowledge beyond the classroom.
Congratulations to Dr. Simmers on this exciting accomplishment!
Pictured is Dr. Kristin Simmers with the first functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study she participated in during the first year of her Ph.D. in 2022.
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