Career Path

Dr. Lemley earned her PhD in Media, Technology, and Society at Northwestern University as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, advised by Dr. Ellen Wartella at the Center on Media and Human Development. Her dissertation focused on parents’ and children’s perceptions of a culturally inclusive STEM television program designed to teach computational thinking. She also led research on children’s podcasts, digital spatial play, and inclusion cues in educational media.

Prior to Northwestern, Dr. Lemley was an Education Research Associate in the Education Division of SRI International, where she supported projects in early STEM learning, digital learning, and college and career readiness. These initiatives, funded by organizations including the Institute of Education Sciences, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and the Gates Foundation, informed her interest in how media can support young children’s learning, particularly through her work on the Ready To Learn Initiative.

She is currently an Education Researcher at Menlo Education Research, where she leads evaluations of professional learning programs and studies on equity-centered teaching practices post-COVID.

Leadership & Service

Beyond her research, Dr. Lemley contributes to the field through leadership and mentorship. She serves as Director of Operations for the Children’s Media Association – Bay Area, where she supports programming and community-building for professionals in children’s media. In 2024, she was invited to review proposals for the National Science Foundation, recognizing her expertise in educational media and learning sciences. She also served as a graduate mentor in the SRCD Black Caucus Emerging Black Child Development Scholars Program, where she supported early-career researchers in advancing equity-focused scholarship.

Media & Public Engagement

Dr. Lemley’s work has been featured in podcasts, radio, blogs, and alumni profiles, reflecting her commitment to public scholarship. She has shared her insights in the Black Pod Class podcast, on WNUR News’ Lost and Found, and in a University of San Francisco alumni spotlight. She has also contributed to practitioner-facing outlets such as the Global Family Research Project Blog. As a guest lecturer at both the University of San Francisco and Northwestern University, she engages directly with students and educators, connecting research to real-world practice.

Personal Note

A San Francisco native, Dr. Lemley’s lifelong commitment to community engagement began with volunteer work as a student and continues today. Her background in psychology and music shapes her interdisciplinary approach to research, blending creativity with rigorous analysis. Whether collaborating with educators, mentoring emerging scholars, or contributing to children’s media production, she is driven by the belief that equitable, high-quality learning opportunities should be accessible to all children and families.