Breniel Lemley
Children’s Media & EdTech Researcher | Program & Product Evaluation | Bridging Evidence to Practice
Children’s Media & EdTech Researcher | Program & Product Evaluation | Bridging Evidence to Practice
Dr. Breniel Lemley is a researcher specializing in children’s media and educational technology with over a decade of experience leading evaluations and mixed-methods studies. Her work sits at the intersection of the learning sciences, communication studies, and child development, examining how children and families engage with media and how educators and parents can be better supported through evidence-based practices. By translating research into actionable insights, she informs pedagogy, program design, and product strategy by bridging evidence and practice to create more equitable and engaging learning experiences for children and families.
Summer 2025: Presented research on children’s media at the International Communication Association conference in Denver, CO.
Fall 2024: Article published in Future in Educational Research special issue on computational thinking and AI in the early years.
I share my work through invited talks, guest lectures, and media features that translate research into accessible insights for educators, students, and the public.
Interviews & Features
Radio Interview: Lost and Found: Childhood Memories Rediscovered
Guest Lectures & Talks
Adolescent Development, Department of Psychology, University of San Francisco
Child and Adolescent Development, Department of Communication Studies, Northwestern University
Beyond my research, I contribute to the field by mentoring emerging scholars, serving as a reviewer, and leading professional communities in children’s media and education.
I currently serve as Director of Operations for the Children’s Media Association – Bay Area, where I support programming, events, and member engagement for professionals in children’s media. In 2024, I was invited to review proposals for the National Science Foundation, contributing to the advancement of innovative research in STEM education and technology.
Previously, I was selected as a graduate mentor in the SRCD Black Caucus Emerging Black Child Development Scholars Program, where I supported early-career researchers in advancing equity-focused scholarship.