
HDFS WELCOMES OUR NEW FACULTY
Marianne Legassey, M.S.
Executive Director and Instructor in-Residence, Child Development Labs
Storrs campus
EDUCATION: M.S. Eastern Connecticut State University, B.S University of Connecticut
DISCIPLINARY BACKGROUND: Child Development and Early Childhood Education
AREAS OF INTEREST: Social Justice in Early Childhood
Cora Megan, M.A., IMH-E
Instructor in Residence
Stamford campus
EDUCATION: B.A. University of Connecticut HDFS with ECDE concentration (2010), M.A. University of Connecticut HDFS (2018)
DISCIPLINARY BACKGROUND: Early Childhood teacher 2010-2016, Director of Child Care Center 2016-2022, Circle of Security Facilitator, Parent Educator with Peace at Home Parenting Solutions
AREAS OF INTEREST: Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health, Attachment, Parent Education

Dilara Yaya-Bryson, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor
Storrs campus
EDUCATION: Ph.D., University of North Carolina Greensboro; Ph.D., Hacettepe University; M.S., Hacettepe University; B.A., Gazi University
DISCIPLINARY BACKGROUND: Human Development and Family Studies; Early Childhood Education; Educational Administration, Planning, Supervision, and Economics; Elementary Education and Teaching
AREAS OF INTEREST: Classroom and administrative quality in early care and education (ECE) settings; ECE workforce development; diversity, equity, and inclusion in ECE settings; intersecting ECE policy, research, and practice
