Curriculum Vitae

Table of Contents

Emmett A. Speed, Ph.D.

pronouns: he/they

hello@emmettspeed.phd

ORCID: 0000-0002-4431-6264

Employment

  • 4/2022-4/2025 Program Manager - Data and Evaluation Lead
    Utah STEM Action Center
    State of Utah, Department of Cultural and Community Engagement, South Salt Lake, Utah
  • 8/2023-11/2024 Project Support
    Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Department
    Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • 1/2017-12/2020 Graduate Instructor and Teaching Assistant
    Psychology Department
    Utah State University, Logan, Utah

Education

  • 2025 Ph.D in Educational Neuroscience
    Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • 2015 B.A. in Psychology
    University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida
  • 2010 A.A. in General Studies
    Pensacola Junior College, Pensacola, Florida

Research

  • 2016-Present Graduate Researcher, Multisensory Cognition Lab (MCL)
    PI- Kerry Jordan, Ph.D.
    Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • Summer 2020 Research Assistant, Multisensory Cognition Lab (MCL)
    PI- Kerry Jordan, Ph.D.
    Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • 2018 Summer Field Work, Kablajuj Ey Kaqchikel Summer School
    PIs- Maria Polinsky, Ph.D. & Pedro Mateo Pedro, Ph.D.
    University of Maryland, Patzún, Chimaltenango, Guatemala
  • 2017-18 Graduate Research Assistant, Early Mathematics Research Group (EMRG)
    PI- Jessica Shumway, Ph.D.
    Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • 2017-22 Laboratory Manager, Multisensory Cognition Lab (MCL)
    PI- Kerry Jordan, Ph.D.
    Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • 2017 Summer Field Work, Kablajuj Ey Kaqchikel Summer School
    PIs- Maria Polinsky, Ph.D. & Pedro Mateo Pedro, Ph.D.
    University of Maryland, Patzún, Chimaltenango, Guatemala
  • 2016-19 Research Group Member, Virtual Manipulatives Research Group (VMRG)
    PI- Patricia Moyer-Packenham, Ph.D.
    Utah State University, Logan, Utah
  • 2015-16 Laboratory Manager, Cognitive Development Lab (CDL)
    PI- Vanessa Rainey, Ph.D.
    University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida
  • 2014-16 Undergraduate Researcher, Cognitive Development Lab (CDL)
    PI- Vanessa Rainey, Ph.D.
    University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida
  • 2015 Undergraduate Researcher, Neurocognition Lab
    PI- James Arruda, Ph.D.
    University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida

Publications

  • Speed, E. A. (May 2025, Anticipated). The SNARC Effect in Mayan Numerals: Effects on Language Transparency and Reading Direction on Novel Symbolic Number Understanding [Doctoral dissertation, Utah State University]. Digital Commons @ USU
  • Speed, E. A. (2022, April 26). Culturally relevant place value instruction in Mayan-speaking 2nd grade classrooms in Guatemala. Paper presented at 2022 annual meeting of American Educational Research Association. link
  • Rainey, V. R., Flores-Lamb, V., Gjorgieva, E., & Speed, E. A. (2019) Language brokering and psychological adjustment in emerging adulthood: Exploring cultural values as moderators. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 41(6). link
  • Moyer-Packenham, P. S., Lommatsch, C. W., Litster, K., Ashby, J., Bullock, E. K., Roxburgh, A. L., Shumway, J. F., Speed, E., Covington, B., Hartmann, C., Clarke-Midura, J., Skaria, J., Westenskow, A., MacDonald, B., Symanzik, J., & Jordan, K. (2018). How design features in digital math games support learning and mathematics connections. Computers in Human Behavior, 91(2019). 316-332. link

Presentations

Oral Presentations

  • Speed, E. A. & Yates, K. (2024, October). Math Play in Nature Spaces. Nature Play Symposium. Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
  • Speed, E. A. & Ames, C. A. (2024, June). Early Math at Home: How to Make Math Fun for Utah Families. STEM Best Practices Conference 2024. Layton, Utah, United States.
  • Ames, C. W. M & Speed, E. A. (2024, January). Early Math at Home: How to Make Math Fun for Utah Families. 2024 annual meeting of Utah Council of Teachers in Mathematics (UCTM) conference. Provo, Utah, United States.
  • Ames, C. W. M & Speed, E. A. (2024, January). Human Connection: The Greatest Predictor in Math Achievement. 2024 annual meeting of Utah Council of Teachers in Mathematics (UCTM) conference. Provo, Utah, United States.
  • Ames, C. W. M & Speed, E. A. (2024, January). Best Practices for Using Math Software in the Classroom. 2024 annual meeting of Utah Council of Teachers in Mathematics (UCTM) conference. Provo, Utah, United States.
  • Ames, C. W. M & Speed, E. A. (2023, December). Empowering Parents: Unlocking Early Math Potential in Children Through Play. 2023 annual meeting of Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Utah Preschool Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.
  • Ames, C. W. M & Speed, E. A. (2023, January). MILO, Math Introductions and Learning Opportunities. 2023 annual meeting of Utah Council of Teachers in Mathematics (UCTM) conference. Provo, Utah, United States.
  • Ames, C. W. M & Speed, E. A. (2023, January). AmeriCorps Math Mentors Program. 2023 annual meeting of Utah Council of Teachers in Mathematics (UCTM) conference. Provo, Utah, United States.
  • Speed, E. A. (2022, April). Culturally relevant place value instruction in Mayan-speaking 2nd grade classrooms in Guatemala. Paper presented in roundtable session "Critical Curriculum Inquiry, Cultural Responsiveness, and 'Colorblindness'". 2022 annual meeting of American Educational Research Association (AERA). San Diego, California, United States. link
  • Speed, E. A. (2020, April). Learning two-digit numbers in a two-language school: How does the language of math class affect the development of symbolic number processing? 2020 Student Research Symposium (SRS), Utah State University. Logan, Utah, United States.
  • Speed, E. A., Litson, K., Covington, B., & Jordan, K. (2019, April) Development of decomposed parallel processing in Dual Language Immersion second graders. 2019 Student Research Symposium (SRS), Utah State University. Logan, Utah, United States.
  • Speed, E. A. (2018, June). Comparación entre los sistemas numéricos: Análisis de datos pilotos [Comparison between numerical systems: An analysis of pilot data]. 2018 Conferencia en Lingüística Maya, Universidad de la Valle de Guatemala - Campus Altiplano. Cantón El Tablón, Sololá, Guatemala. Delivered in Spanish.
  • Speed, E. A. (2017, June). Comparación entre los sistemas numéricos en inglés, español, kaqchikel maya, y chino [Comparison between the numerical systems of English, Spanish, Kaqchikel Mayan, and Chinese]. 2017 Intercambio Cultural con Estudiantes de Lenguas Mayas, Universidad de la Valle de Guatemala - Campus Altiplano. Cantón El Tablón, Sololá, Guatemala. Delivered in Spanish.

Poster Presentations

  • Ames, C. W. M. & Speed, E. A., (2024, June). Early Math at Home: The Impact of Board Games on Caregivers' Math Knowledge, Interest, and Confidence [Poster]. 2024 annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS). Washington DC, United States.
  • Speed, E. A., Ivie, C. G., & Jordan, K. E. (2024, June). The SNARC Effect in Mayan Numerals: Effects on Language Transparency and Reading Direction on Novel Symbolic Number Understanding [Poster]. 2024 annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS). Washington DC, United States.
  • Hartmann, C. K.*, Ewing, O., Isheqlou, L. K., Speed, E. A., Jordan, K. E. (2023, October). One Variable, Multiple Meanings: Measuring Response Time in Those with Math Anxiety [Poster]. 2023 annual conference of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME-NA). Reno, Nevada, United States.
  • Speed, E. A., Pope, S. N., Hartmann, C. K., Jordan, K. E. (2022, June). The SNARC Effect in Mayan Numerals [Poster]. 2022 annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS). Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Hartmann, C. K.*, Covington, B.P., Ewing, O. H., Speed, E. A., Jordan, K. E., (2022, June). Implicit and Explicit Measurement of Math Anxiety [Poster]. 2022 annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS). Antwerp, Belgium.
  • Speed, E. A., Shumway, J., & Jordan, K. E. (2020, June). Mayan vigesimal numbers: An educational case study on language transparency and learning trajectories [Poster]. 2020 annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS). Dublin, Ireland. (Conference canceled.)
  • Speed, E. A. (2020, April). Learning two-digit numbers in a two-language school: How does the language of math class affect the development of symbolic number processing? [Poster]. 2020 annual meeting of Rocky Mountain Psychological Association (RMPA). Denver, Colorado, United States. (Conference canceled.)
  • Speed, E. A. (2019, June). Development of decomposed parallel processing in Dual Language Immersion second graders [Poster]. 2019 annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS). Ottawa, Canada.
  • Speed, E. A., Litson, K., Covington, B., Nield, T., Henrie, T., & Jordan, K. (2019, April). Automaticity of place value processing in Dual Language Immersion second graders [Poster]. 2019 annual meeting of Rocky Mountain Psychological Association (RMPA). Denver, Colorado, United States.
  • Rainey, V. R.*, Flores-Lamb, V., Gjorgieva, E., & Speed, E. A. (2017, April) Cultural protective factors for the psychological health of language brokering children and adolescents [Poster]. 2017 biennial meeting of Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). Austin, Texas, United States.
  • Speed, E. A., & Rainey, V. R. (2016, April). Cultural protective factors for the mental health of language brokers [Poster]. 2016 Student Scholars Symposium, University of West Florida. Pensacola, Florida, United States.
  • DiRienzo, M.*, Speed, E. A., Moore, R., & Rainey, V. R. (2016, April). Predictors of success: The effects of personality factors and executive function on academic achievement in college students [Poster]. 2016 Student Scholars Symposium, University of West Florida. Pensacola, Florida, United States.
  • DiRienzo, M., Speed, E. A., & Rainey, V. R. (2016, April). Grit and conscientiousness as predictors of academic achievement in college [Poster]. 2016 annual meeting of Southeastern Psychological Association (SEPA). New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.
  • DiRienzo, M., Speed, E. A., & Rainey, V. R. (2015, August). Predictors of success: The effects of grit on academic success in college students [Poster]. 2015 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium: College of Science, Engineering, & Health, University of West Florida. Pensacola, Florida, United States.
  • Speed, E. A. (2015, April). When teens translate: A literature review of language brokering in adolescence [Poster]. 2015 Student Scholars Symposium, University of West Florida. Pensacola, Florida, United States.

Science Outreach

Event Presenter

  • 2024 Presenter at Northern Utah STEM Expo, The Human Brain.
    Northern Utah STEM Expo (2024, November 4).
  • 2024 Presenter at USU STEAM Expo, The Human Brain.
    Utah State University Uintah Basin - Roosevelt Campus (2024, October 2).
  • 2024 Presenter at DIY Fest, Human Brains Meet & Greet.
    Craft Lake City (2024, August 9-11).
  • 2023 Presenter at Utah STEM Fest, Human Brains Meet & Greet.
    Utah STEM Action Center (2023, September 19-20).
  • 2023 Presenter at DIY Fest, Human Brains Meet & Greet.
    Craft Lake City (2023, August 11-13).
  • 2022 Presenter at Utah STEM Fest, Human Brains Meet & Greet.
    Utah STEM Action Center (2022, September 27-28).

Invited Talks

  • 6/2024 Hack the Brain.
    801 Labs, Salt Lake City, UT.
  • 3/2024 Testimony of the Brain.
    Heathen Church, Logan, UT.
  • 9/2022 This Is Your Brain on Math: Neuroscience and the Growth Mindset.
    School Assembly at Whitehorse High School, Montezuma Creek, UT
  • 6/2022 Educational Neuroscience, or How Your Students' Brains Learn.
    STEM Best Practices 2022 conference, St. George, UT.

Teaching Experience

Instructor, Utah State University

  • PSY4420 Cognitive Psychology
    Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Summer 2019, Fall 2019
  • PSY4430 Cognitive Psychology
    Lab Spring 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Spring 2020

Curriculum & Online Course Development, Utah State University

  • PSY4420 Cognitive Psychology
    Summer 2018
  • PSY4430 Cognitive Psychology Lab
    Summer 2018

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Utah State University

  • PSY1010 General Psychology
    Instructor of Record- Jen Grewe
    Fall 2016, Summer 2017, Fall 2021
  • PSY3010 Psychological Statistics
    Instructor of Record- Benjamin Covington
    Fall 2020
  • PSY3010 Psychological Statistics
    Instructor of Record- Kaylee Litson
    Fall 2017
  • PSY3400 Advanced Analysis of Behavior
    Instructor of Record- Annie Galizio
    Fall 2016
  • PSY3460 Neuroscience I
    Instructor of Record- Megan Raddatz
    Summer 2021
  • PSY4420 Cognitive Psychology
    Instructors of Record- Kerry Jordan, Christine Hartmann, Gonça Soyer
    Springs of 2017, 2018, 2020 2021

Guest Lecturer, Utah State University

  • "Lived Experience of Gender Dysphoria using the BioPsychoSocial-Spiritual Model"
    HDFS6370 Assessment in Marriage and Family Therapy - Dave Robinson
    11/12/19
  • "Brain Anatomy and Neuronal Structure"
    PSY1010 General Psychology - Kathryn Sperry
    4/20/18, 9/19/18, 1/30/19, 9/25/19

    PSY1010 General Psychology - Jen Grewe
    9/14/17, 2/7/18, 1/25/19, 5/13/19, 9/12/19, 1/27/22
  • "Brains and Bilingualism"
    PSY4420 Cognitive Psychology - Gonça Soyer
    3/29/18
  • "Language"
    PSY4420 Cognitive Psychology - Gonça Soyer
    3/27/18
  • "Introduction to ANOVA"
    PSY3010 Psychological Statistics - Salif Mahamane
    11/15/16

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Pensacola State College

  • ASL1150 American Sign Language II
    Instructor of Record - Becky Adkins
    Spring 2015, Fall 2015

Grants Received

  • 2024-27 Utah AmeriCorps State 2024 Grant - AmeriCorps Math Mentors Program
    Utah Commission on Service & Volunteerism (UServe)
    $1,200,000
  • 2022-24 Utah AmeriCorps State 2022 Grant - AmeriCorps Math Mentors Program
    Utah Commission on Service & Volunteerism (UServe)
    $650,000
  • 2022 Funding for Travel to 2022 annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS), Antwerp, Belgium.
    Utah State University Department of Psychology and Utah State University Office of Research and Graduate Studies
    $800
  • 2019 Funding for Travel to 2019 annual meeting of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS), Ottawa, Canada.
    Utah State University Department of Psychology and Utah State University Office of Research and Graduate Studies
    $800
  • 2019 Funding for Travel to 2019 annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association (RMPA), Denver, CO.
    Psi Chi International Psychology Honors Society
    $400
  • 2018 Funding for Travel to 2018 Kablajuj Ey Kaqchikel Summer Field School, Patzún, Guatemala
    Utah State University Department of Psychology and Utah State University Office of Research and Graduate Studies
    $800
  • 2017-20 Utah State University Diversity Council Long-Term Grant
    "Safe Passage". PI- Kaylee Litson. Co-Investigator.
    Utah State University Diversity Council
    $15,000 for 2017-2020
  • 2017 Graduate Student Research Funds, Second Year Project
    "Effect of Language of Instruction on Numerical Cognition in Dual Language Immersion Classrooms"
    Utah State University Department of Psychology
    $1000
  • 2017 Funding for Travel to 2017 Kablajuj Ey Kaqchikel Summer Field School, Patzún, Guatemala.
    Utah State University Department of Psychology and Utah State University Office of Research and Graduate Studies
    $800
  • 2016 Funding for Travel to 2016 annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
    University of West Florida Office of Undergraduate Research
    $620

Certificates

  • 5/11/2025 Build a Website with HTML, CSS, and GitHub Pages Skill path
    Codecademy
  • 2/29/2024 Volunteer Management Certificate
    UServe: Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism
  • 8/22/2023 Key Concepts of Financial Grants Management Certificate
    AmeriCorps
  • 12/5/2016 Responsible Conduct of Research (RDR) - Social and Behavioral Course
    CITI Program
    Record ID: 44814241 (Expires 11/28/2026)
  • 1/29/2015 Human Research; Group 1: Social, Behavioral, & Educational Researchers
    CITI Program
    Record ID: 55878810 (Expires 5/15/2026)

Honors, Awards, Fellowships, & Scholarships

  • 2018-Present Member of Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology
  • 2017-2018 Frederick Q. Lawson Fellowship
    Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, Utah State University.
    $2500 for Fall 2017 semester, $2500 for Spring 2018 semester
  • Fall 2017 Center for Women & Gender Scholarship
    Center for Women and Gender, Utah State University.
    $1196
  • Spring 2016 President's List
    4.0 Semester GPA Spring 2016; University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL.
  • 4/2016 Best Undergraduate Student Project: Department of Psychology
    2016 Student Scholars Symposium; University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL.
  • 4/2016 2nd Place Undergraduate Presentation: College of Health
    2016 Student Scholars Symposium; University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL.
    $50
  • 2009-15 Florida Medallion Scholar (FMS)
    Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.
    75% tuition award.

Service

State Service

Committees

  • 2023 Small Group Facilitator at Active Engagement Retreat
  • 2024 AmeriCorps Member Gathering Planning Committee

Volunteering

  • 2023 Volunteer, Governor's Native American Summit, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah.

University Service

Committees

  • 2022 Mental Health Week 2022 Planning Committee
  • 2021-22 Gender Inclusive Restroom Committee

Elected Positions

  • 2018-20 Treasurer, Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology, Utah State University Chapter
    2018-19 Graduate Student Representative, Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Utah State University

Panels

  • 3/15/2022 Panelist, "Queerness and Spirituality" Panel
    Mental Health Week, Utah State University
  • 3/15/2022 Panelist, "It's Real: Surviving Suicidal Ideation" Panel
    Mental Health Week, Utah State University
  • 4/24/2021 Panelist, "Lived Experiences with Suicide" Panel
    Campus Day of Action, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Utah State University
  • 2/7/2020 Moderator of Oral Presentations, 2020 Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research (UCUR), Utah State University.
  • 11/15/2019 Panelist, "Ask a Trans Person" Panel
    Trans Awareness Week, Inclusion Center, Utah State University
  • 2019-21 Panelist, "OUTspoken" Panels
    Inclusion Center, Utah State University.
    4/04/19, 4/10/19, 4/15/19, 10/30/19, 11/4/19, 11/14/19 (x3), 12/17/19, 2/11/20, 2/19/20 (x3), 11/16/20, 11/17/20 (x3), 3/4/2021 (x3), 3/8/2021, 3/11/2021, 3/23/2021, 4/22/21
  • 4/6/2019 Panel Moderator, "Getting into Grad School and Surviving Once You Get There"
    2019 meeting of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Denver, CO.
  • 2016-19 Graduate Student Panelist
    PSY2010 Careers in Psychology, Utah State University

Other

  • 12/9/2021 Evaluator
    Fall Student Research Symposium, Utah State University
  • 4/10/19 Training Facilitator
    Allies on Campus, Access and Diversity Center, Utah State University.
  • 2017 Facilitator
    Neurodiversity Group, Utah State University
  • 2016 Co-Founder
    Safe Passage for U (SP4U), Utah State University

Community Service

Continuous Volunteering

  • 2025-present Transit Navigator Volunteer
    International Rescue Committee; Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • 2016-17 Global Village Team Member
    Habitat for Humanity Guatemala; Sololá, Guatemala.
    April 2-10, 2016, March 4-12, 2017
  • 2007-09 Construction Team
    Habitat for Humanity; Pensacola, Florida.

One-Time Volunteering

  • 7/2023 Volunteer, Utah Arts Festival
    Make Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • 7/2022 Volunteer, Utah Arts Festival,
    Make Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, Utah.

Panels

  • 5/17/2024 Panelist, "LGBTQ+ Rights, History, and Legislation" Panel br>US Government & Citizenship Class; East High School, Salt Lake City, UT

Languages

  • English - native
  • Spanish - fluent, advanced
  • American Sign Language (ASL) - basic, classroom study
  • Kaqchikel Mayan - beginner, classroom study and fieldwork