Amy Kennedy Root, Ph.D.
Assistant Department Chairperson
Associate Professor, Child Development and Family Studies
West Virginia University
College of Education and Human Services
Department of Learning Sciences and Human Development
Office: 504J
Allen Hall
Phone: (304) 293-0380
E-mail:
amy.kennedy@mail.wvu.edu
Dr. Amy Kennedy Root received her bachelor's degree in Psychology and her Ph.D. in
Human Development from the University of Maryland. Her research interests include
the impact of children's gender and dispositional characteristics (e.g.,emotion
regulation) on parenting beliefs and practices, understanding how parents may affect
the stability of children's behaviors and affect regulation, and how children's
dispositional characteristics and caregiving experiences work together (or against
one another) to impact children's socio-emotional development throughout the early
childhood years (birth-5). Recently, she began a new study where she will examine
how shy, inhibited 3-year-olds' family experiences (observed interactions with
mothers, mother's and father's socialization beliefs) impact children's social
and emotional development (e.g., anxious behaviors).
Dr. Root was the 2014-15 recipient of the College of Education and Human Services
Derrick Research Award and the Summer Grant Writing Award. She also received
the West Virginia University Provost's Office/West Virginia University ADVANCE
Office Sponsorship Program Funding for the 2012-2013 year.