Stephanie Carlson is a Distinguished McKnight University Professor and incoming Director at the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, which is the #1 developmental psychology program in the country. Dr. Carlson is an internationally recognized leader in the study of executive function, which she refers to as the brain basis of self-control. With funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation, she has developed innovative ways of measuring executive function and made discoveries about the role of executive function in other important aspects of human development, including decision making, perspective taking, academic achievement, and mental health. Her current research focuses on ways to improve executive function through reflective practices. Stephanie is also a Co-founder of Reflection Sciences, where she has served in various roles, including CEO, Chief Science Officer, and Board Chairman. She currently serves as a Senior Science Advisor, focused on leveraging the company’s large assessment database.