LaRen Morton
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Ph.D. Student, Graduate Research Assistant, and Social Determinants of Child Development (SDCD) Lab Manager
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science | Family Science | University of Maryland, College Park | 2019 |
| Master of Science | Human Development and Family Science | University of Georgia | 2022 |
Research
My research interests encompass minoritized children’s educational outcomes and understanding what factors promote or inhibit their academic success. More specifically, I am interested in examining gender differences in educational contexts and the effects of the school environment on minoritized children's social, emotional, and academic development.
Currently, I am a graduate research assistant working with Dr. Margaret Caughy and the team for the Dallas Project on Education Pathways (formally known as DPREP — the Dallas Preschool Readiness Project). The goal of this project is to understand the various cultural, familial, and contextual factors that impact the academic achievement and development of self-regulation in African American and Latinx children as they transition into middle school.
Prior Professional Positions
| Organization | Title | Years of Service |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, Early Experiences, and Development Lab, University of Georgia | Graduate Research Assistant | 1 |
Awards
| Award Name | Awarded By | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Black Caucus Student Poster Presentation, 2nd Place | Society for Research on Child Development | 2021 |
| Virginia Wilbanks Kilgore Scholarship | Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia | 2021 |
| FACS Fund for Excellence | Family and Consumer Sciences | 2021 |
| Eleonora M. Costa Graduate Support Fund | Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia | 2019 |
Service
| Organization | Title | Year(s) | Service Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta Gamma Chapter of Alpa Alpha Alpha | 2022-2023 | President | |
| Phi Upsilon Omicron | 2022-2023 | Secretary | |
| Graduate Student Organization (GSO) | 2020-2021 | President | |
| Society for Research in Human Development (SRHD) | 2019 | Conference Abstract Reviewer |
Advisory Committee
Dr. Margaret Caughy - Major Professor
Dr. Kalsea Koss
Dr. Michael Barger
Journal Articles
Anderson, L.A., Morton, L., & Trejo, A. (2022). To be young, conscious and Black: The cumulative witnessing of racial violence for Black youth and families. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12466
Working Papers
Morton, L, Anderson, L.A., Caughy, M.O., Osborne, K., Suma, K., & Little, T.D. (under revision). Changes in ethnic identity in middle childhood: Family and neighborhood determinants.
Morton, L., Caughy, M., & Koss, K. (under review). The effects of school racial composition on changes in Black children’s academic engagement and motivation during late elementary school.
Osborne, K.R*., Morton, L.*, Anderson, L. A., Owen, M. T., & Caughy, M.O. (under review). Experiences of the sociopolitical climate among Black parents: A mixed methods analysis.
*both authors contributed equally to the work