Angeline Lillard

In addition to her academic publications, she is the author of Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius - applying modern academic research to evaluate Maria Montessori's theories of education. The book was awarded the Cognitive Development Society Book Award in 2006.

Biography

Lillard completed her PhD under the supervision of John Flavell at Stanford University in 1991. Her dissertation research, focusing on young children's mental representations of pretend play, was awarded the American Psychological Association's Outstanding Dissertation Award of 1992, and later the Boyd McCandless Award for early contributions to developmental science.

Lillard began her career in academia at the University of San Francisco, where she served as assistant professor of psychology from 1991 to 1995. She was then awarded funding by the National Science Foundation to serve as a visiting professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley for one year. At the conclusion of that role, Lillard moved to the University of Virginia, where she has remained since.

Her scientific work has appeared in journals such as the Psychological Bulletin, Science, Pediatrics, and Psychological Science, and has been featured in popular press outlets including Nightline, The Washington Post, Forbes, and Slate. Lillard is a frequent keynote speaker at psychology, Montessori, and education conferences nationally and internationally.

Research

Lillard's primary research interests include Montessori education and children's pretend play. She is also interested in the development of theory of mind, children's executive function, children and media, neuroplasticity, contemplative practices, and culture and development. Her research has been funded by sources like the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Institute for Educational Sciences, and the Wildflower Foundation Research Partner Grant.

Honors and awards

• UVA Research Achievement Award, 2021
• University of Virginia College Fellow, 2021-2024
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2020
• Public Voices Fellow, The Op-Ed Project, University of Virginia, 2018–19
• Fellow, American Psychological Association, 2011
• Cognitive Development Society Book Award, 2006, for Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius
• Fellow, Association for Psychological Science, 2006
• James McKeen Cattell Sabbatical Fellow, 2005-2006
• Life Academy Fellow (Max Planck-Berlin, Universities of Michigan, Virginia, Zurich, Humboldt, and Frei University-Berlin), 2005
• British Psychological Society Visiting Fellow, 2003
• Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary and Cultural Psychology, Leipzig, Visiting Fellow, 2003
• University Teaching Fellow, University of Virginia, 1999-2000
• American Psychological Association Boyd McCandless Young Scientist Award, 1999
• Visiting Scientist, Japan Developmental Psychology Society, Tokyo, 1998
• American Psychological Association Outstanding Dissertation Award (Division 7), 1992