Who We Are
Meet the Nested Team
Dr. Erin O'Connor
Co-Founder
As the Director of the Early Childhood Education program at NYU and a Full Professor, she brings a wealth of expertise to Nested. With a Doctorate from Harvard and Master's degrees from Fordham and Columbia, Dr. O'Connor’s research focuses on relationship-building interventions that enhance language and social development in pre-kindergarten children from low-income backgrounds. Her work, published in leading journals and funded by the Spencer Foundation and the Institute for Education Sciences, drives meaningful change. She also co-hosts the podcast "Parenting Understood," translating research into actionable insights for caregivers.
Dr. Robin Neuhaus
Co-Founder
Dr. Robin Neuhaus is dedicated to making child development research accessible and impactful. With a PhD from NYU and supported by a prestigious Institute of Education Sciences fellowship, she combines rigorous quantitative training with deep insights into educational and developmental psychology. Dr. Neuhaus specializes in science communication, ensuring that complex research is understandable and useful for parents and caregivers.
The Board
Dr. Natalie Hiromi Brito
Developmental neuroscientist and New York University Professor focusing on early childhood development, disparities, and caregiving.
Michelle Tangeman, BCBA
Behavioral specialist and cohost of Nested's podcast, Parenting Understood with expertise in child development and family dynamics.
Alan Mendelsohn, MD
Pediatrician at New York University Langone, Director of Research for the Divisions of General and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, and expert in early intervention and parental mental health.
Dr. Cindy Hovington
Founder of Curious Neuron, PhD in neuroscience, parenting expert and science communicator.
Fair Play Policy Institute
Nested partner organization founded by NYT Bestselling author, Eve Rodsky. Aims to advance equity with a focus on care justice
Alyssa Cowit
Co-founder of Live from Snacktime, 700K followers, teacher.
Key Collaborators
Dr. Emily Oster
Economist, author, professor at Brown University, and founder of ParentData. Her bestselling books include Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm.
Caitlin Murray
Creator of Big Time Adulting with 1.5 million+ followers, writer, and advocate for honest parenting experiences.
The Nested Mission
Rigor
Education
Empowerment
Change
We believe in fighting for the support families deserve.
Nested champions the urgent transformation of family-focused policies and support systems through rigorous research and data-driven advocacy. Recognizing the family as a dynamic system, we aim to support every member, including mothers, birthing people, nonbirthing caregivers, teens, and children. We confront critical issues such as affordable childcare, the teen mental health crisis, perinatal mental health among birthing and non-birthing parents, mental health and menopause, eldercare and mental health, and the necessity of paid parental leave. By conducting comprehensive research studies, we mobilize families, businesses, and communities to turn collective frustration into action. Together, we are building a future where every family member thrives in a society that values their well-being and rights above all.