She received a Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Michigan and completed an NICHD postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Developmental Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, before joining the faculty at the University of Illinois. Dr. McElwain's research focuses on children's early social and emotional development in the context of family and peer relationships. In particular, Dr. McElwain investigates how early parent-child interactions and child temperament combine to provide children with a foundation for understanding and managing emotions and establishing positive relationships with peers. Dr. McElwain teaches courses on behavioral research methods and social-emotional development, and she is an Associate Editor of Developmental Psychology.