Rebecca Edmondson Pretzel, Ph.D. Pediatric Psychologist and Principal Investigator, Early Childhood LINK

Becky is a clinical assistant professor and pediatric psychologist at the Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning (CDL) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she has been employed since 1992.  She is one of the Principal Investigators for the Early Childhood LINK project, along with Debbie Reinhartsen and Stuart Teplin.

Becky grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia and attended Emory and Henry College in Emory, VA.  She received an undergraduate degree in early childhood education and taught kindergarten for five years. During this time, she grew increasingly interested in the development, behavior, and individual differences among young children.  Subsequently, she attended graduate school at UNC-CH,  where she received two masters degrees (Educational Psychology and School Psychology) and her doctorate degree in School Psychology with a specialization in early intervention.  Becky's psychology internship year was completed at the Georgetown University Child Development Center in Washington, D.C., where she specialized in infant development.

Becky has particular expertise in evaluation and intervention planning for infants and young children at risk for or with developmental disabilities.  She is especially interested in the assessment of young children with low-incidence disabilities, specifically those with autism and visual impairment.  Becky has published several articles and given numerous presentations related to early intervention, assessment issues, and working with children and families.

Apart from work, Becky enjoys traveling, sports, outdoor activities, reading, going to the beach, and spending time with her immediate and extended family.  She is married to Michael, a structural designer, and has a school-age son and two older stepsons.