PROFILE

Theresa Pfister, Ph.D., began her career as a teacher and college access advisor, helping first-generation and low-income students access higher education. Those roots now ground her work at WestEd, where she bridges research and practice as a researcher, evaluator, and technical assistance provider. She specializes in social-emotional learning, trauma-informed schools, school-based mental health, and equity in education. Theresa’s work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Applied Developmental Science and The Journal of Early Adolescence, as well as practitioner-facing publications such as ASCD’s Educational Leadership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Pomona College, a master’s in Teaching from Relay GSE, and a Ph.D. in educational psychology—applied developmental science from the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development.