Kimberly Turner Nesbitt, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, where she also serves as the program coordinator for the department’s Pre-Kindergarten to 3rd Grade Early Childhood Education Teacher Preparation program. Her research interests focus on the development of young children’s cognition; namely executive function, memory, and academic skills. She studies the internal processes and external influences that enhance or disrupt development of these constructs.

Dr. Nesbitt also pursues a line of applied research that examines the educational and instructional practices that contribute to the emergence of more sophisticated cognitive abilities and enable young children from diverse backgrounds to learn and achieve academically in early educational environments. Dr. Nesbitt is committed to identifying and disseminating evidence-based educational practices through research, service, and teaching.

Her expertise includes: early childhood education, child poverty, child development, educational assessment, and children's learning.