Rebekka Zydel

Rebekka Zydel works with Dr. Dennis Reidy as a Research Scientist in the Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences on several federally funded community-based research and evaluation projects. She has dedicated over 25 years to enhancing public health and early care and education systems. She also works with the American Psychological Association’s Leadership Development Institute serving as a Subject Matter Expert for their ACT Raising Safe Kids Program, an early intervention initiative aimed at parents and caregivers of young children. It teaches positive parenting skills to foster stable, safe, and nurturing environments, thereby protecting children from adverse experiences like abuse and neglect and their long-term effects. Rebekka’s research interests are rooted in prevention. As the President of the New Jersey Coalition of Infant and Toddler Educators, Rebekka leads efforts toward a high-quality coordinated system of early childhood and family support programs that offer healthy, social/emotional learning environments, and educated, responsive caregivers.