Dawn Kurtz

Dr. Dawn Kurtz is a developmental psychologist with a passion for social justice issues. She believes that all children deserve access to robust emotional, cognitive, social, and concrete supports to develop the foundation necessary to thrive and flourish in life. To that end, her work has focused on various contexts that impact children’s development; namely the families, schools, and communities they develop within. Dr. Kurtz is passionate about contributing to the development of an equitable education system that supports educators and engages children and families in a culturally and linguistically relevant manner. For over a decade, she worked in early childhood education, contributing to multiple local and state-level systems change efforts, developing programs, and advocating for resources and supportive services for very young children and their families. She was previously the director of an NIH-funded research study on the developmental impact of child abuse and neglect on adolescent development. She serves as a board trustee for Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School in Pasadena.