Associate Dean for Equity, Faculty Development, and Community Engagement
Dr. Tokowicz earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. She completed post-doctoral fellowships at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh before beginning a faculty appointment at the University of Pittsburgh in 2004. She is currently a Professor of Psychology and Linguistics and Senior Scientist at the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh, with an appointment in the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition.
Her research combines behavioral and cognitive neuroscientific methodologies to address questions about adult second language learning and bilingualism. Her current research examines the role of individual differences in language learning and aims to understand why some people are better at learning languages than others. The National Science Foundation funds this work and focuses on musical ability and training as important factors in adult second language learning at all levels. Her book, Lexical Processing, and Second Language Acquisition, was published by Routledge.
Dr. Tokowicz has been involved in numerous equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives; she developed and co-Directed the Learning Research and Development Undergraduate Research Internship Program, co-Chaired the University of Pittsburgh Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee, and was a member of the Advisory Boards of the SPARK Society and Women in Cognitive Science-Canada.. She is currently an advisory board member for Women in Cognitive Science and the University of Pittsburgh Women in Medicine and Science Forum.
She started in her position as Associate Dean for Equity, Faculty Development, and Community Engagement in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences on August 1, 2023.