The Active Learner's Edge

MONICA LOPEZ is a learning scientist and educator with more than fifteen years of experience helping college students unlock their academic potential. She holds a Master’s degree in Cognitive Psychology from Stanford University and a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. Monica has served as a learning consultant at several major universities, where she developed and led workshops on evidence-based study techniques, metacognition, and time management. Her previous publications include peer-reviewed articles in the *Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition* and a co-authored guide on active learning for STEM majors. She is also the creator of the online course “Study Smarter, Not Harder,” which has enrolled over 50,000 students worldwide. Currently, Monica teaches a seminar on the science of learning at a community college and frequently speaks at academic conferences about bridging the gap between cognitive science and everyday student practice. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading mystery novels, and experimenting with new cooking techniques—always applying the same active learning mindset to her own hobbies.