Robert C. Pianta
- Batten Bicentennial Professor of Early Childhood Education
Phone
Office Location
Bavaro Hall 234H
PO Box 400260
417 Emmet Street S
Charlottesville, VA 22903
Profile Type
Biography
Robert Pianta is the Batten Bicentennial Professor of Early Childhood Education, professor of psychology, and founding director of the Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning at the University of Virginia. Pianta‘s research and policy interests focus on the intersection of education and human development. In particular, his work has advanced the conceptualization and measurement of teacher-student relationships and documents their contributions to students’ learning and development. Pianta has led research and development on measurement tools and interventions that help teachers interact with students more effectively and that are used widely in the United States and around the world.
Pianta began his career as a special education teacher and joined the University of Virginia faculty in 1986. He is the past editor of the Journal of School Psychology and associate editor for AERA Open. An internationally recognized expert in both early childhood education and K-12 teaching and learning, Pianta regularly consults with federal agencies, foundations, universities, and governments. He was named a Fellow of the American Education Research Association and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Minnesota in 2016. Pianta served as dean of the UVA School of Education of Human Development from 2007-2022 and remains a member of the faculty.
Pianta is currently on sabbatical.
Education
Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 1986
M.A., University of Connecticut, 1978
B.S., University of Connecticut, 1977