She earned her PhD in Human Development, specializing in Educational Psychology, from the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Fives taught grades 5-8 for 6 years in Washington, D.C. where she developed and implemented an interdisciplinary curriculum with the Folger Shakespeare Library. Her research focuses on the intersection of teacher beliefs and practices, with an emphasis on understanding the interrelationship between teachers' beliefs (specifically efficacy, knowledge, and ability beliefs) and the process of teaching and learning to teach. Dr. Fives has published in outlets such as Journal of Educational Psychology, Contemporary Educational Psychology, and Teaching and Teacher Education.