Dr. Grifenhagen was an elementary classroom teacher in Washington, DC, and Boston prior to earning her Ph.D. from Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Grifenhagen's research focuses on the role of teachers' talk to foster children's early language and literacy development in the classroom. She is interested in the intersection between language and literacy development as well as preparing children from all backgrounds for the academic and language demands of schooling today. In turn, Dr. Grifenhagen seeks to develop the best training and supports for teachers to improve practices in language and literacy.