is Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland, and Director of the Maryland Child and Family Development Laboratory. She received her Ph.D. in 1986 from the University of Virginia, where she studied attachment theory under the guidance of Mary Ainsworth. She received the Boyd R. McCandless Young Scientist award from the American Psychological Association.

She is currently co-editor of the journal "Attachment and Human Development," and is a memberof the journal "Attachment and Human Development," and is a member of the editorial board of "Child Development." She is also co-editor of "Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications." Her research interests are in socioemotional development with specific emphasis on attachment.