She received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Arizona. Her work has been published in Teachers College Record and has appeared in a number of local, national, and international conferences. She has recently co-authored a book, Teacher and Student Evaluation: Moving Beyond the Failure of School Reform, with Tom Good (University of Arizona). At Roosevelt University, Dr. Lavigne primarily teaches human development courses for students who are preparing to become teachers.