The Lewis Paeff and Edna Duchin Lipsitt Lectures in Child Behavior and Development were established by the Lipsitt family in 2000 to celebrate its many years of association with Brown University and to preserve an interest in child psychology at the University. This annual lecture is co-sponsored by Brown University and Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is a statewide children’s policy organization that works to improve the health, economic well-being, safety, education and development of Rhode Island children.
The speaker for the 2025-2026 academic year will be Dr. Kang Lee. He is a globally recognized scholar and member of the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Prof. Lee holds the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Moral Development and Developmental Neuroscience. Prof. Lee's acclaimed work has been in the areas of the development of deception (lying and cheating), face processing in children and adults, and the early development of racial bias and its reduction.
His talk will take place on Thursday, April 4th, 2026 in Pembroke Hall, Room 305 from 4pm-6pm. Registration is encouraged but not required. Stay tuned for a registration link.
Previous speakers include the following:
- 2020: Elizabeth Spelke
- 2019: Kenneth Dodge
- 2018: Arnold Sameroff
- 2017: Daniel Keating
- 2016: David Hemenway
- 2014: Linda Espinosa
- 2013: James Comer
- 2012: Geraldine Dawson
- 2011: Kathy Hirsh-Pasek
- 2010: David Hawkins
- 2009: David Kennedy; Teny Gross; Deborah Gorman-Smith
- 2008: Stephen Buka
- 2006: Richard Tremblay
- 2005: Ed Zigler; Jack Shonkoff
- 2004: Peter Ornstein
- 2003: David Goldston