Sofina Shekhar

Sofina graduated in December 2021 from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Psychology. During her gap year and a half, she worked as a project coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh on a research project being implemented in Northeast Philadelphia. The project is called Literacy Eats. It is a community-based, family intervention co-developed with the help of a community organization and community members and aimed to empower parents to promote their preschoolers’ language and literacy skills while cooking.  Sofina is interested in doing more community-based research, especially with families of color from a low SES background. Specifically investigating how language and literacy interventions can affect academic outcomes and positive identity development.

Research Projects

• Literacy Eats, Food for Thought lab, University of Pittsburgh
• NOAH study, Behavioral medicine and science group, University of Pittsburgh
• Playful learning study, Food for thought lab, University of Pittsburgh
• Generator Z, Cambiar Collective, University of Pittsburgh
• Home and Coronavirus, Frieze lab, University of Pittsburgh

Professional Experiences

• Project Coordinator, Literacy Eats, Food for Thought lab, University of Pittsburgh
• Research Associate, NOAH study, Behavioral Medicine and Science group, University of Pittsburgh

Honors and Awards

• Magna Cum Laude, University of Pittsburgh
• Dean’s List, University of Pittsburgh

Past Education

• B.S. in Psychology, University of Pittsburgh