Portrait of Precious Elam
About me

Hi, I'm Precious.

An Early Childhood Development Specialist and UX Researcher who believes the people closest to a problem, especially children, should shape the things built for them.

My path has always run through people. Studying sociology at UCLA taught me to understand individuals within the systems surrounding them: their families, schools, communities, and the inequities that shape their experiences. Later, while earning my master's in developmental psychology at Columbia University, I studied how children think, feel, regulate emotions, form relationships, and develop in the context of both support and adversity.

Alongside that education, I have spent years working directly with young people and families through educational programming, mentorship, community organizations, and research. That combination is at the heart of how I approach my work: developmental science grounded in a deep respect for lived experience.

Today, my work connects three areas: UX research for products serving children and families, research on adversity and child development as I prepare for doctoral training in clinical psychology, and consulting with schools and nonprofits. They may happen in different rooms, but they share the same purpose: understanding how young people develop and using that knowledge to help build a world in which they can thrive.

Education

The foundation beneath my work.

  • M.A., Developmental Psychology Teachers College, Columbia University
    M.A. Capstone: trauma-informed intervention in early childhood education
  • B.A., Sociology University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • Research experience across four labs at UCLA & Columbia, see my research →
Precious Elam at Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University M.A., Developmental Psychology.
Beyond the work

A few things that are just me.

When I'm not researching, you'll find me being creative and a little playful, staying curious is part of how I stay good at this work.

And yes, still watching children's movies, entirely for research purposes.

Looking for my CV or resume? The research page has my academic CV, and the UX portfolio has my UX resume.

Precious Elam performing spoken word
Doing spoken word
Precious Elam playing the piano
Playing the piano
Precious Elam on roller skates
Roller skating & dancing
Explore more

Three ways to get to know my work.

Precious Elam seated at home