Catharine Echols, PhD

What position do you hold, besides being a HousingWorks Austin board member?

I am employed as a professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Texas.   In the volunteer realm, I also serve on the board of Liveable City.

Where did you grow up and attend school?

I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and Berkeley, California.  I attended college at the University of California at San Diego, completed my Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, and conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University before joining the faculty here at the University of Texas.

What are your major career accomplishments?

As an academic, it is difficult to identify specific career accomplishments, as my influences
take the form of contributing to knowledge through my research and contributing to the intellectual and personal development of my students.  My research focuses on the conceptual and social influences on language development in young children, including how parents can help to promote language learning; similarities and differences across languages, cultures and socioeconomic status; and bilingual language development.

What are some interests of yours not related to your work or HousingWorks?

Between my job, my family, and serving on the boards of two non-profits, I don’t have a lot of time for outside interests.  I enjoy spending time with my two daughters and my husband (along with the dog and two cats) and take advantage of Austin’s live music when I can.  In terms of issues, I am passionate about education and improving outcomes for children.