Yanran Chen

Yanran Chen is the program director for graduate and postdoctoral teaching development at Notre Dame Learning’s Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence, where she is also an assistant professor of the practice. She works with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to support their development as effective teaching assistants, instructors, and future faculty. This includes developing and facilitating professional development programs such as teaching and mentoring workshops, performing classroom observations, and providing feedback on teaching statements. She also consults with instructors on course design, active learning, and the thoughtful integration of emerging educational technologies.

Holding a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and an M.A. in public administration from Cornell University, Yanran worked as a research assistant at the International Food Policy Research Institute prior to her doctoral studies, leading field surveys and coordinating collaborative projects with international organizations on agricultural development.

Yanran’s disciplinary background is in psycholinguistics and bilingualism, with research examining how native language influences second-language use. It shapes her interest in how learners process information, participate in classroom interactions, and navigate cultural and cognitive barriers to learning. Her work in educational development is informed by learning sciences, student-centered teaching, and the thoughtful use of emerging technologies in higher education.