Ashley Lewis Presser, EDC senior research scientist, brings over 20 years of experience leading pre-K–12 education research and evaluation studies. A well-known principal investigator in the early childhood and STEM education fields, her studies advance knowledge of effective strategies to improve learning for young people. She brings extensive expertise leading randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, design-based research, and program evaluation.

A widely published author, Lewis Presser leads education R&D, heads up evaluations of informal and formal STEM programs, examines comprehension within various media formats, and explores how digital games promote learning. Recent projects to improve young children’s mathematics learning include Transforming Preschoolers’ Spatial Orientation Learning and Engaging Preschoolers in Data Collection and Analysis to Promote Computational Thinking. She also leads rigorous evaluations of innovative STEM education initiatives.

In addition to presenting her research findings at national conferences, Lewis Presser prioritizes sharing her work with teachers and families to help them support children’s spatial, mathematics, computational thinking, science, and engineering learning.

Lewis Presser holds a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota.