Research
Madison Helms is a graduate student in the Art Education Program. Drawing on her background in child development, she is interested in how art education can support children’s learning and growth, and how art classrooms can serve as inclusive spaces for neurodivergent, disabled, and other marginalized students. Madison has extensive experience in child development research and currently serves as a Project Coordinator for the LittleBeats Baby Rhythms Project in the Interdisciplinary Lab for Social Development. The project uses wearable technology and a live observational coding system to examine infants’ states of alertness and caregiver interactions in classroom settings. Madison earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Illinois in 2025, graduating with highest honors. She enjoys artmaking of all kinds, including photography, painting, fashion design, and creating children’s books and screenplays that promote inclusion, empathy, and positive development.