Curriculum Vitae - Department of Psychology - Texas Christian ...

EDUCATION
POSITIONS
Naomi V. Ekas
Department of Psychology
Texas Christian University
2800 S. University
PO Box 298920
Fort Worth, TX 76129
Office: (817) 257-7848
naomi.ekas@tcu.edu
University of Miami
Post-doctoral training, 2009 – present
Advisor: Daniel S. Messinger, Ph.D.
University of Notre Dame
PhD., Developmental Psychology, 2009
Advisor: Julia M. Braungart Rieker, Ph.D.
Dissertation: Adaptation to stress in mothers of children with autism with autism spectrum
disorder: The role of positive affect and personality factors
M.A., Developmental Psychology, 2007
Advisor: Julia M. Braungart-Rieker, Ph.D.
Thesis: Toddlers’ behavioral strategies with mothers and fathers
University of California at Davis
B.A., Psychology with Highest Honors, 2005
Undergraduate Honor Thesis: The relationship between acculturation and gambling among
Asian Americans
Major GPA: 3.97 Overall GPA: 3.90
Research experience: Research assistant at the University of California at Davis
M.I.N.D. Institute. Supervised by Sally Ozonoff and Sally Rogers.
2011 – Present Assistant Professor of Psychology, Texas Christian University
2009-2011 Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Miami
2005-2009 Research Associate, University of Notre Dame
2004-2005 Research Associate, University of California at Davis

AWARDS AND HONORS
2009 Eli J. and Helen Shaheen Graduate School Award
Graduate School, University of Notre Dame
2008 Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher Award for Excellence in
Teaching
Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Notre Dame
2007 Teaching in Psychology Award
Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
2005 University of California at Davis Highest Honors
University’s highest academic honor awarded to undergraduate students
2005 National Dean’s List
2005 Golden Key Honor Society
University of California at Davis Chapter
2003 – 2005 Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society
University of California at Davis Chapter
ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE AND METHODOLOGICAL TRAINING
Strange Situation Procedure Attachment Reliability Coding (A, B, C, D)
Instructors: Dr. Alan Sroufe (A, B, C) & Dr. Elizabeth Carlson (D)
University of Minnesota
Facial Action Coding System (2009, September)
Instructor: Dr. Erika Rosenberg
University of California at Berkeley
APA Advanced Training Institute on Structural Equation Modeling in Longitudinal
Research (2008, June)
Instructors: Dr. John Nesselroade, Dr. John McArdle, & Dr. Steven Boker
Competitive selection process
University of Virginia
Hierarchical Linear Modeling (2008, May)
Instructors: Dr. Steve Raudenbush & Dr. Tony Bryk
Scientific Software, Inc. Chicago, IL
Longitudinal Data Analysis (2007, Fall)
Instructor: Dr. Scott Maxwell
University of Notre Dame

Structural Equation Modeling (2007, Spring)
Instructor: Dr. Gitta Lubke
University of Notre Dame
Group-Based Trajectory Modeling (2007, June)
Instructor: Dr. Daniel Nagin
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Exploratory Data Analyses (2006, Spring)
Instructor: Dr. Steve Broker
University of Notre Dame
Methods for Child & Adolescent Development and Family Processes (2006, May)
The Notre Dame Series on Quantitative Methodologies, University of Notre Dame
EXTERNAL FUNDING
2010 Principal Investigator, The Emergence of Emotion Regulation in
Children At-Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder
NICHD Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.
F32 HD065385-01 (funded for a total of 3 years)
2009 Society for Research in Child Development Student Travel Awards
Awards given by SRCD to fund travel to and attendance at the biennial
meeting in Denver, Colorado ($300)
2006 – 2009 Graduate Research Assistantship
Stipend awarded to support graduate research
Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award
T32 HD07184-27
PIs: John G. Borkowski & Thomas L. Whitman
2008 American Psychological Association Advanced Training Institute
Travel Award
Awards given by American Psychological Association to cover travel
expenses associated with attending statistical workshop ($200)
2007 Society for Research in Child Development Student Travel Awards
Awards given by SRCD to fund travel to and attendance at the biennial
meeting in Boston, Massachusetts ($200)
INTERNAL FUNDING
2007 - 2008 Gordon Conference Presentation Grant
Awards given by the Graduate Student Union at the University
Of Notre Dame to cover travel expenses to present research at

Conferences (2 totaling $450)
2007 - 2008 Graduate Student Professional Development Grant
Awards given by the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal
Arts at the University of Notre Dame to cover travel expenses
associated with attending professional workshops (2 totaling $2000)
2005 – 2008 Graduate Student Travel Grant
Awards given by the Department of Psychology at the
University of Notre Dame to cover travel expenses to present
research and attend professional workshops (3 totaling $1300)
2005 - 2008 Joseph P. Downes Memorial Grant
Competitive award given by the Graduate School at the University of Notre
Dame to fund attendance at professional workshop (3 totaling $4500)
2006-2007 Pilot Funds for Faculty-Student Research Teams in the Social Sciences
University of Notre Dame, Institute for Research in the Liberal Arts ($3600
total costs)
Risk and Resiliency in Mothers Caring for Children with Autism
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
PUBLICATIONS
Messinger, D., Ekas, N.V., Ruvolo, P., & Fogel, A. (in press). ‘Are you interested baby?’
Young infants exhibit stable patterns of attention during interaction. Infancy.
Oberwelland, E., Mattson, W.I., Ekas, N., & Messinger, D.S. (in press). Facial expression
learning. In N. Seel (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. New York, NY:
Springer.
Ekas, N.V., & Whitman, T.L. (in press). Adaptation to daily stress among mothers of
children with an autism spectrum disorder: The role of daily positive affect. Journal of
Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Ekas, N.V., Braungart-Rieker, J.M., Lickenbrock, D.M., Zentall, S.R., & Maxwell, S.M. (in
press). Toddlers’ behavioral strategies with mothers and fathers: Temporal
associations with toddler affect. Infancy.
Haltigan, J.D., Ekas, N.V., Messinger, D.S., & Seifer, R. (2011). Brief Report: Attachment
security in infants at-risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders, 41, 962-967.
Lickenbrock, D.M., Ekas, N.V., & Whitman, T.L. (2011). Feeling good, feeling bad:
Influences of child perceptions and marital adjustment on well-being in mothers of

children with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental
Disorders, 41, 848-858.
Ekas, N.V., Lickenbrock, D.M., & Whitman, T.L. (2010). Optimism, social support, and
well-being among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of
Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 1274-1284.
Baker, J.K., Messinger, D.M., Ekas, N.V., Lindahl, K.M., & Brewster, R. (2010). Brief
report: Non-expert ratings of family and parent-child interaction. Journal of Family
Psychology, 24, 775-778.
Messinger, D., Ruvolo, P., Ekas, N., & Fogel, A. (2010). Applying machine learning to
infant interaction: The development is in the details. Neural Networks, 23, 1004-1016.
Ekas, N.V., & Whitman, T.L. (2010). Autism symptom topography and maternal
socioemotional functioning, American Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,
115, 234-249.
Ekas, N.V., Whitman, T.L., & Shivers, C. (2009). Religiosity, spirituality, and
socioemotional functioning in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39, 706-719.
Whitman, T.L., & Ekas, N.V. (2008). Theory and research on autism: Do we need a new
approach to thinking about and studying this disorder? International Review of Research
in Mental Retardation, 35, 1-41.
UNDER REVIEW
Ekas, N.V., Lickenbrock, D.M., Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (under review). The Developmental
Trajectories of Emotion Regulation: Do Age and the Social Partner Influence the
Temporal Patterns?
Ekas, N.V., Baker, J.K., Celimli, S., & Messinger, D. (under review). Parenting Children At
Risk for Autism: Preliminary Associations between Child Behaviors, Parental
Distress, and Parenting Behavior.
Haltigan, J.D., Messinger, D., Lambert, B., Seifer, R., Ekas, N.V., & Bauer, C.R. (under
second review). Security of attachment and quality of mother-toddler social
interaction in a high-risk sample.
Zentall, S.R., Braungart-Rieker, J.M., Ekas, N.V., & Lickenbrock, D.M. (under review).
Longitudinal assessment of sleep-wake regulation and attachment security with
parents.
Braungart-Rieker, J.M., Zentall, S.R., Lickenbrock, D.M., Ekas, N.V., & Oshio, T. (under
review). Attachment in the making: Mother and father sensitivity and infants’
responses during the still-face paradigm.

Lickenbrock, D.M., Braungart-Rieker, J.M., Ekas, N.V., Zentall, S.R., Oshio, T., & Planalp,
E. (under review). Early temperament and attachment security with mothers and
fathers as predictors of toddler compliance and noncompliance.
IN PREPARATION
Ekas, N.V., & Messinger, D. (in prep). Emotion regulation of 6-month-olds at-risk for
autism: Temporal contingencies between attention, self-soothing, and negative affect.
PRESENTATIONS
Ib a n e z , L.I., St o n e , W., Eka s , N. V. , Ge aly, W., & Me s s ing e r, D. ( 2 0 1 1 ,
Ma y). Early at t e nt ional abilities are stable in infant siblings of
children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Post er present ed
at the International Meeting for Autism Research, San Diego, CA.
Eka s , N. V. , Stone, W., & Messinger, D.M. (2011, May). Temporal
dynamics in the still-face: Do infants’ social bids decline with time?
Post er present ed at the Association for Psychological Science (APS)
Annual Convent ion, Washingt on, D.C.
Ma t t s o n , W. I., Eka s , N. , Tronick, E. Z., Lest er, B. M., & Messinger, D. S.
(2011, May). Em ot ional expre s s ion and phys iolog y during t he Face -
to-Face / S t ill-Face ( FFS F) in at -risk infant s. Post er present ed at the
Associat ion for Psychological Science (APS) Annual Convent ion,
Washingt on, D.C.
Ekas, N., Messinger, D., Ibanez, L.I., & Stone, W. (2011, April). Emotion regulation in
infants at-risk for autism: Transitional contingencies between negative affect and
attention. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development 2011
Biennial Meeting, Montreal, QC.
Ekas, N., Baker, J.K., Celimli, S., & Messinger, D. (2011, April). Parenting children at-risk
for autism: Associations between child behaviors, parental mental health, and
parenting behavior. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child
Development 2011 Biennial Meeting, Montreal, QC.
Celimli, S., Ekas, N., Baker, J.K., & Messinger, D. (2011, April). Associations among
parental distress, discipline style, and behaviors of children at-risk for autism: A
longitudinal pilot study. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child
Development 2011 Biennial Meeting, Montreal, QC.
McDonald, N., Baker, J.K., Ekas, N., Gordon, H., & Messinger, D. (2011, April). The

elation between early parent-child interaction and later empathic responding in
toddlers at varying risk for an ASD. Poster presented at the Society for Research in
Child Development 2011 Biennial Meeting, Montreal, QC.
Ekas, N., Ibanez, L., Mattson, W.I., & Messinger, D. (2010, May). Attention during face-toface
interaction: When do infants at-risk for autism spectrum disorder shift gaze?
Poster presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research, Philadelphia, PA.
Messinger, D., Ekas, N., Ruvolo, P., & Fogel, A. (2010, May). Young infants exhibit stable
patterns of interest and affect during interaction. Poster presented at the Association
for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Boston, MA.
Messinger, D., Ekas, N., & Fogel, A. (2010, May). Early bi-directional influence: Competing
agendas when infants gaze and mothers smile. Poster presented at the Association
for Psychological Science Annual Convention, Boston, MA.
Ekas, N.V., Baker, J.K., Gealy, W., & Messinger, D. (2010, March). Distress among parents
of children with and at-risk for autism spectrum disorder. In N. Ekas & J. Baker
(Chairs), Parenting in the context of developmental difficulties: Perspectives on
parental mental health. Symposium presented at the 43 rd Annual Gatlinburg
Conference, Annapolis, MD.
Baker, J.K., Messinger, D.S., Ekas, N.V., Lyons, K.K., & Grantz, C.J. (2010, March).
Mother-toddler interaction in the context of emergent autism. In J. Baker & N. Ekas
(Chairs), Parent-child interaction and the emergence of developmental disorders.
Symposium presented at the 43 rd Annual Gatlinburg Conference, Annapolis, MD.
Ekas, N., Ibanez, L., Mattson, W.I., & Messinger, D. (2010, March). Coordination of
attention and affect during the still-face among infants at-risk for autism spectrum
disorder. Poster presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies,
Baltimore, MD.
Ekas, N., Haltigan, J.D., Gealy, W., & Messinger, D. (2010, March). Early interactions
between infants at-risk for autism spectrum disorder and their mothers. Poster
presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies, Baltimore, MD.
Ekas, N., & Whitman, T.L. (2009, May). Stress and positive emotions among mothers of
children with autism spectrum disorder: A daily diary study. Poster presented at the
International Meeting for Autism Research, Chicago, Illinois.
Ekas, N., & Whitman, T.L. (2009, May). Daily stress and negative affect among mothers of
children with autism spectrum disorder: The role of psychological resilience. Poster
presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research, Chicago, Illinois.
Ekas, N., Lickenbrock, D.M., Zentall, S.R., Bohn, L., & Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2009,
April). Infant emotion regulation with mothers and fathers: Temporal associations
between affect and behavioral strategies. Poster presented at the Society for Research
in Child Development 2009 Biennial Conference, Denver, Colorado.

Zentall, S.R., Ekas, N., Lickenbrock, D.M., Braungart-Rieker, J.M., & Harmon, E. (2009,
April). Parental attachment, sensitivity, and intrusiveness in infancy as predictors of
toddler motivation. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child
Development 2009 Biennial Conference, Denver, Colorado.
Bohn, L., Ekas, N., Lickenbrock, D.M., Zentall, S.R., & Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2009,
April). Toddlers' Compliance: Links to Behavior Regulation with Mothers and
Fathers Across Infancy. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child
Development 2009 Biennial Conference, Denver, Colorado.
Lickenbrock, D.M., Zentall, S.R., Ekas, N., & Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2009, April).
Associations between marital functioning and parenting across early infancy. Poster
presented at the Society for Research in Child Development 2009 Biennial
Conference, Denver, Colorado.
Ekas, N., & Whitman, T.L. (2009, March). Social support, personality factors, and wellbeing:
Coping in mothers of children with autism. Poster presented at the Gatlinburg
Conference on Research and Theory in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities,
New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ekas, N., & Whitman, T.L. (2008, May). Autism symptom topography and maternal
socioemotional functioning. Poster presented at the International Meeting for
Autism Research, London, UK.
Whitman, T.L., & Ekas, N. (2008, May). Religiosity, spiritual beliefs, and stress: Coping in
mothers of children with autism. Poster presented at the International Meeting for
Autism Research, London, UK.
Ekas, N., Lickenbrock, D.M., Zentall, S.R., Bohn, L., & Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2008,
March). Toddlers’ behavioral strategies during a frustrating situation with mothers
and fathers. Poster presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies,
Vancouver, B.C.
Ekas, N., Zentall, S.R., Lickenbrock, D.M., Bohn, L., & Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2008,
March). Trajectories of behavioral strategy use with mothers and fathers across
infancy. Poster presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies,
Vancouver, B.C.
Lickenbrock, D. M., Ekas, N., Zentall, S., & Braungart-Rieker, J. M. (2008, March). The
effects of parenting and marital functioning on infant affect during the still-face.
Poster presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies, Vancouver, B.C.
Zentall, S. R., Ekas, N., Lickenbrock, D., & Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2008, March).
Longitudinal assessment of sleep-wake regulation and attachment security with
parents. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of International Society on Infant
Studies. Vancouver, B.C.

Zentall, S. R., Lickenbrock, D., Ekas, N., & Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2008, March).
Unhappily married dads are no fun at all: A longitudinal investigation of change in
father play predicted by marital happiness. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of
International Society of Infact Studies, Vancouver, B.C.
Braungart-Rieker, J.M., Zentall, S. R., Lickenbrock, D., & Ekas, N. (2008, March). Maternal
and paternal sensitivity and infant responses during the still-face: Early glances into
attachment formation. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of International
Society on Infant Studies, Vancouver, B.C.
Lickenbrock, D.M., Zentall, S., Ekas, N., Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2007, March).
Associations between marital conflict, infant temperament and parental sensitivity
during early infancy. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child
Development conference, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ekas, N. V., Lickenbrock, D. M., Zentall, S., Braungart-Rieker, J.M. (2007,
March). Toddlers' Emotion Regulation Strategies: Associations with Parental
Sensitivity and Temperament. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child
Development conference, Boston, Massachusetts.
Zentall, S., Ekas, N., Lickenbrock, D.M., Boker, S. M., Braungart-Rieker, J. M.
(2007, March). Parent-Infant coupling: A dynamic systems approach. Poster
presented at the Society for Research in Child Development conference, Boston,
Massachusetts.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE: TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Undergraduate Courses
Fall 2011 General Psychology
TEACHING EXPERIENCE: UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Undergraduate Courses
Spring 2008 Introduction to Psychology, Instructor of Record
Fall 2007 Introduction to Psychology, Instructor of Record
Spring 2007 Experimental Psychology II: Research Methods, Teaching Assistant and Lab
Instructor
Fall 2005 Introduction to Psychology, Teaching Assistant
Striving for Excellence in Teaching Certificate (2006)
Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Notre Dame
Thesis Mentor
Co-advisor, Glynn Family Honors Program senior thesis, Caroline Shivers (Spring
2007 – Spring 2008)

Advisor, Center for Social Concerns Summer Program thesis, Lyndsey Timpone
(Spring 2007 – Fall 2007)
DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE
2008-2009 Developmental Studies Group Coordinator
University of Notre Dame, elected by peers
2006-2007 Graduate Student Union Department Representative
University of Notre Dame, elected by peers
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Psychological Association Graduate Student Affiliate, 2005-2008
American Psychological Association Student Affiliate, 2004-2005
Association for Psychological Science, 2011
International Society for Research in Autism, 2007-2011
International Society for Infant Studies, 2009-2011
The Society for Research in Child Development, 2005-2011
AD HOC REVIEWER
American Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Autism: International Journal of Research and Practice
Emotion
International Meeting for Autism Research
International Journal for the Psychology of Religion
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting