Meghan Wenzel, MS

Senior Researcher & Editor

Meghan serves as Senior Researcher and Managing Editor of HeartMind eNews at the Center for Educational Improvement (CEI), where she translates research on child development, neuroscience, and education into actionable insights for schools and educators.

With a background in developmental cognitive neuroscience, Meghan’s work explores how early experiences shape brain development, learning, and life outcomes. Her research has examined the effects of early life stress on the brain and how targeted, evidence-based interventions can promote resilience and positive development. Meghan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience from Brown University, focusing on early brain development and its implications for education. She completed her Master’s in Neuroscience and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she worked in Dr. Kimberly Noble’s Neurocognition, Early Experience, and Development Lab, studying the impact of socioeconomic inequality on children’s brain development. Earlier in her career, Meghan contributed to KidsCount, a policy and advocacy nonprofit dedicated to improving the well-being of children in Rhode Island. She also worked with Knewton, an educational technology company developing adaptive learning platforms, and currently conducts user experience research and strategy to inform the design of educational, HR, and analytics products.

Meghan is passionate about applying neuroscience to real-world educational contexts—bridging research, policy, and practice to foster equity and well-being in schools. She is also co-author of Compassionate School Practices: Fostering Children’s Mental Health and Well-Being.