Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank

Associate Professor
Phone: (603) 535-2844
Office: Education, Democracy & Social Change, Rounds Hall Rm 032, MSC 38, Plymouth, NH 03264

Education

BS, Ph.D. Brigham Young University; MEd, Southern Utah University

Dr. Swank came to PSU in 2011 after completing a postdoctoral position at New York University. At PSU she teaches courses in human development and history and philosophy of education. In the past, her research has focused on two main areas: children’s cognitive development and math learning, and the history of U.S. elementary school reading and mathematics textbooks. Recently, she has begun a research partnership with the NH Department of Education and the NH Afterschool Network. Through this work, she plans to learn more about the value of after-school programming in child development and education. Dr. Swank serves as the Co-Chair for the NH Afterschool Network’s Leadership Team.

Selected publications and presentations

Swank, H.K. (2014). Afterschool and Non-Cognitive Skills. Poster Presented at the 2014 International Mind, Brain and Education Conference, Fort Worth, TX, November.

Gamson, D., Eckert, S., & Knipe, H. (2012). Rethinking the Decline of the Academic Curriculum: A Cognitive Analysis of Twentieth-Century Elementary School Reading and Mathematics Textbooks. Paper to be presented at the History of Education Society Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA.

Knipe, H. (2011) Executive Function, Basic Math Skills and Math Achievement in Third and Fourth Grades. Paper presented at the International Mind, Brain and Education Society Biennial Meeting, San Diego, CA. June 4th.

Baker, D., Knipe, H., Cummings, E., Collins, J., Gamson, D., Blair, C. and Leon, J. (2010). One Hundred Years of American Primary School Mathematics: A Content Analysis and Cognitive Assessment of Textbooks from 1900 to 2000. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education.

Blair, C., Knipe, H. & Gamson, D. (2008) Is There a Role for Executive Function in the Study of Developing Ability in Mathematics? Mind, Brain and Education, v. 2(2).

Courses Taught

Undergraduate:

CD2300 Human Development I: Child Development
CD2310 Human Development II: Learning and Development
CD3000 Philosophical and Historical Perspectives on the Child in Society
ED2350 Human Development: Children, Health, and Learning (WECO)

Graduate:

ED5010 Philosophy, Ethics, and Education
ED5030 Research Design