About a learning brain

Dr. Sylvia del Carmen Roberts is a research psychologist, growth mindset speaker, and founder of A Learning Brain — a research-driven practice providing professional learning services in both English and Spanish. She specializes in motivation psychology,  including growth mindset and social emotional learning (SEL).

With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Roberts has presented to educators, corporate leaders, and nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and internationally. Her work focuses on making research in psychology actionable, empowering audiences to better support learning, motivation, and performance across contexts.

She has delivered keynotes and workshops on growth mindset, SEL implementation, motivation in STEM fields, and mindset strategies in leadership. As a trusted mindset consultant, she partners with organizations to design learning experiences that foster resilience, equity, and engagement.

Previously, Dr. Roberts served as Director of Research and Implementation at Mindset Works, Inc., where she led training and program development for schools and districts worldwide. She was also Co-Principal Investigator on a multi-million-dollar randomized controlled trial funded by the U.S. Department of Education, which tested the impact of a blended-learning program teaching growth mindset and study strategies to middle school students. Published results from the trial showcase some of the largest gains on achievement due to an educational intervention, especially for students from diverse backgrounds.



Dr. Roberts earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Columbia University and her A.B. in Psychology with a Minor in Spanish from Princeton University. She is a recipient of the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, awarded to top scientists contributing to research in STEM.

As a proud first-generation Mexican American, Dr. Roberts draws on her lived experience to connect authentically with diverse audiences. Her insights have been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, WNYC, and leading education conferences. She is passionate about helping others reimagine learning, challenge limiting beliefs, and create environments where people are empowered to grow.