Dana Miller-Cotto, Ph.D.
Pronunciation: DAY-nuh mil-er k-OH-t-oh
Picture of Dana Miller-Cotto (March, 2026)
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Welcome! I am an Assistant Professor in the Berkeley School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley. Before coming to Berkeley, I was an Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences at Kent State University in Ohio. My research explores how children learn and how the environments around them shape their thinking. Whether children are solving a math problem, interacting with a teacher, using classroom materials, or learning with materials, I study how these experiences support—or sometimes interfere with—their ability to think, learn, and solve problems independently. Much of my work focuses on executive functions, the mental skills that help children pay attention, remember information, switch between ideas, and manage distractions. Rather than viewing these abilities as fixed traits, I investigate how classrooms, learning materials, assessments, and other supports can help children use these skills more effectively. |
A central goal of my research is ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. I examine why some children, particularly Black and Latinx/e children and those growing up in under-resourced communities, face greater barriers to success, and how educators can design learning environments that recognize children's strengths instead of only measuring their challenges. Ultimately, my work aims to bridge developmental science and educational practice so that research can help create classrooms where all children have the opportunity to think deeply, learn confidently, and reach their full potential. My mission is to ensure that the experiences, strengths, and cultural backgrounds of minoritized students are respected and built into the way we teach and support them.
My work has been published in top journals such as Journal of Educational Psychology, Developmental Review, Learning and Individual Differences, and Developmental Psychology. My work has been supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Brady Education Foundation, and the Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood. My work has been featured in the Washington Post, EdSurge and Edutopia.
My work has been published in top journals such as Journal of Educational Psychology, Developmental Review, Learning and Individual Differences, and Developmental Psychology. My work has been supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), Brady Education Foundation, and the Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood. My work has been featured in the Washington Post, EdSurge and Edutopia.
"I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops".
- Stephen Jay Gould, Historian of Science
I am a proud product of the New York City public school system, shaped by the support of dedicated educators and mentors. From there, I earned my degree from the City University of New York (CUNY)—the largest public urban university system in the U.S. and a transformative engine of social mobility—followed by graduate training at Temple University, Philadelphia’s only public university. My own journey reflects why I believe so deeply in the power and promise of public education.
I will be reviewing applications for PhD students for the Fall 2027 admissions cycle. Please note, for the sake of equity, I do not meet with prospective students before the official application deadline.
If you are an undergraduate student who hopes to gain research experience with me (either through UC Berkeley or otherwise), please send me an email ([email protected]) indicating your interest.
If you are an undergraduate student who hopes to gain research experience with me (either through UC Berkeley or otherwise), please send me an email ([email protected]) indicating your interest.