She earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the State University of New York at Buffalo, at which time she developed research interests in uses of video games and new media, and ways in which these influence cognition and learning in children. With background in music education and mathematics, Dr. Hamlen has taught K-12 general music, elementary instrumental music, and junior high mathematics in schools both in South America and the United States. She now teaches graduate Educational Research, Statistics, and Creativity in Education courses at CSU.