Ashley Ransom
Cornell University (312) 952-9763
Ithaca, NY 14850 asr28[email protected]
Education & Relevant Employment
Ph.D. Candidate in Developmental Psychology
Minor in Cognitive Science
Cornell University (expected graduation 2021)
M.A. in Developmental Psychology
Cornell University, 2016 – 2018
Research Coordinator
Development of Social Cognition Lab
Department of Psychology
University of Chicago, 2014 – 2015
Adjunct Instructor
Department of Psychology
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, 2013 – 2014
Kindergarten Teacher
St. Louis International English School
Daegu, South Korea, 2011 – 2012
M.A. in Experimental Psychology
University of Arkansas, 2007 – 2010
B.A. in Psychology
Cum laude with distinction
Hendrix College, 2002 – 2007
Publications
*available upon request
Ransom, A., LaGrant, B., Spiteri, A., Anderson, A. K., Kushnir, T., & De Rosa, E. (under
review*). Face-to-face learning enhances the social transmission of
information.
Ransom, A., Anderson, A. K., De Rosa, E., & Bian, L. (manuscript*). Shared emotional
information shapes children’s social choices.
Ransom, A., & Casasola, M. (manuscript*). Children’s talk about object properties
supports spatial encoding.
Jones, E., Santhanagopalan, R., Ransom, A., & Kinzler K. (in preparation). Where
does language come from? The development of a meta-biological
understanding of language.
Casasola, M., Wei, W., Suh, D., Donskoy, P., & Ransom, A. (2020). Children’s exposure
to spatial language promotes their mental rotation. Journal of Experimental
Psychology: General, 149, 1116 – 1136.
Casasola, M., & Ransom, A. (2020). Early semantic and grammatical development.
In J. Benson (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Infant and Early Childhood Development.
Elsevier Press.
Organized Conference Symposiums
Children’s Utilization of Shared Information Across Contexts (Chair)
Society for Research in Child Development, 2021
Spatial Symbols and Spatial Thought: How Language and Maps Shape the
Development of Spatial Thinking (Chair)
Society for Research in Child Development, 2019
Conference Presentations
Ransom, A., Anderson, A. K., De Rosa, E. (2021). Shared emotional information
shapes children’s social choices. Society for Research in Child Development
(TALK)
Ransom, A., & Casasola, M. (2019). Thinking out loud: Children’s language use
during a spatial configuration task. Society for Research in Child Development
(TALK)
Ransom, A., & Casasola, M. (2019). Making shape talk count: Caregiver language
during a math vs. creativity activity. Society for Research in Child Development
(POSTER)
Casasola, M., Hogan, C., & Ransom, A. (2019). Relational language and math:
Variation across types of language and math activities. Society for Research in
Child Development (TALK)
Ransom, A., & Casasola. M. (2017). The differential impact of shape and color on
children’s memory for a pattern. Cognitive Development Society (POSTER)
Ransom, A., Suh, D., Wei, W., Donskoy, P., & Casasola, M. (2017). Does learning to
name shapes improve preschool children’s mental transformations? Society
for Research in Child Development (POSTER)
Casasola, M., Suh, D., Wei, W., Donskoy, P., & Ransom, A. (2017). Spatial language
promotes children’s mental rotation. Society for Research in Child
Development (POSTER)
DeJesus, J. M., Gerdin, E., Ransom, A., & Kinzler, K. D. (2016). Language marks
children’s thinking about conventional food choices. Budapest CEU
Conference on Cognitive Development (POSTER)
Ransom, A., & Behrend, D. (2011). Children’s endorsement of foreign language
speakers on social and epistemic tasks. Society for Research in Child
Development (TALK)
Ransom, A., & Behrend, D. (2010). The role of speaker accuracy and language
during word learning. International Conference on Infant Studies (POSTER)
Schwartz, R., Behrend, D., & Ransom, A. (2010). Toddlers' understanding of word-
action-object relations: Influence of vocabulary size and accompanying
language on imitation. International Conference on Infant Studies (TALK)
Behrend, D., Ransom, A., & Schwartz, R. (2009). Children’s trust of foreign language
speakers during word learning. Society for Research in Child Development
(TALK)
Schwartz, R., Behrend, D., & Ransom, A. (2009). Learning words and facts through
overhearing. Society for Research in Child Development (TALK)
Behrend, D., Bogulski, C., Schwartz, R., & Cowles, A. (2008). Three-year-olds trust
inaccurate native language speakers over non-native speakers. International
Conference on Infant Studies (POSTER)
Cowles, A. (2007). The way we move: Gender and body language. National
Conference on Undergraduate Research (TALK)
Cowles, A., & Knox, M. (2006). The way we move: Gender and body language.
Arkansas Symposium for Psychology Students (TALK)
Mentorship
*mentee
Salis, L*., Ransom, A., & Casasola, M. (2019). The effect of play activity on parent-
child divergent thinking. Cornell Undergraduate Psychology Conference
(POSTER)
Jones, E.*, Santhanagopalan, R., Ransom, A., & Kinzler, K. (2017). The development
of the biological essentialism of language. Ivy League Undergraduate
Research Symposium (POSTER)
Invited Talks
The Role of TA’s in Cultivating an Inclusive Classroom
Center for Teaching Innovation
Cornell University, October 2019
Language and Thought
Guest lecturer for Cognitive Development (HD 2300)
Cornell University, October 2019
Learning Through Play
PRYDE Career Exploration Workshop
Cornell University, June 2019
Parent-Child Language During Math Versus Creative Play
Department of Human Development Brown Bag
Cornell University, April 2019
Research in Early Spatial Development
PRYDE Career Exploration Workshop
Cornell University, June 2018
Serious Fun: Play and Children’s Learning
4-H Session on Women in Science
Cornell University, June 2017
Does Highlighting Shape and Color Facilitate Children’s Spatial Memory?
Department of Human Development Brown Bag
Cornell University, April 2017
Honors and Awards
Provost Diversity Fellowship
Cornell University, 2021
CHE Graduate Fellowship
College of Human Ecology
Cornell University, 2020
Graduate Teaching Fellowship
Center for Teaching Innovation
Cornell University, 2019 – 2020
Kittrell Flemmie Fellowship
Department of Human Development
Cornell University, 2019
Student Travel Award
Society for Research in Child Development, 2017
Service and Professional Activities
Graduate Student Ambassador
Graduate Student Recruitment Office
Cornell University, 2019 – 2021
Graduate Studies Committee Student Representative
Department of Human Development
Cornell University, 2017–2019
Speaking Groups Program Discussion Facilitator
English Language Support Office
Cornell University, 2017
Howell’s Endowment Committee Student Representative
Department of Psychology
University of Arkansas, 2010
Psi Chi National Honors Society Chapter President
Department of Psychology
Hendrix College, 2006 – 2007
Teaching Experience
Instructor
Adjunct Instructor
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, 2013 – 2014
• Introduction to Psychology
Graduate Student Instructor
University of Arkansas, 2009 – 2010
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• General Psychology
Teaching Assistant
Cornell University, 2016 — 2021
• Cognitive Development
• Human Bonding
• Policy Analysis & Management Engaged Learning Capstone
• Research Methods
• Serious Fun: The Role of Play Throughout Development
• Six Pretty Good Books: Explorations Across Social Science
• The Nature of Leadership
University of Arkansas, 2008 — 2010
• Developmental Psychology
• Psychology of Learning
Course Design
Educational Psychology (PSYC 4033)
University of Arkansas, 2010