By: Erik Pedersen, Content Strategy Director

BALTIMORE – An assistant professor in Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Education was recently celebrated as the second recipient of the University’s Fenster Faculty Research Award.

Dr. Kristine Larson received the award during an afternoon reception in Doyle Formal. The event included a presentation from Dr. Larson, where she highlighted her research on the benefits of supporting and promoting human flourishing in the classroom for both students and educators, and emphasized the importance of collaboration when conducting research.

“This award is really a tribute to all of the talented scholars that I have had the honor of working with over the past decade,” said Dr. Larson. “A special thanks goes to my dissertation advisors Drs. Michael Rosenberg and Norma Day-Vines, as well as my mentors at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Drs. Catherine Bradshaw and Elise Pas, and my collaborators at Saint Louis University and the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, Drs. Amrita Chaturvedi, Beth Tek, and Matthew Lee. I also want to thank my colleagues at Notre Dame of Maryland University, Dr. Stephanie Savick, Dr. Molly Dunn, and Aubrie Lawler-Justice for their unwavering support. Lastly, none of this work would have been possible without the willingness of district leaders and educators to collaborate on these projects. Together, we can transform our world.”

Dr. Larson joined Notre Dame in 2019. In her current role as assistant professor and program coordinator of special education, she teaches courses in special education while conducting research in contemplative practices to support pre-and in-service teachers. She is additionally a liaison for professional development school (PDS) partnerships, the founder and chair of the Teacher Education for Flourishing Collaborative at NDMU, and the program coordinator for the Social-Emotional Learning and Flourishing post-bachelor's certificate.

“We had some incredible submissions for the award this year,” said Dr. Yasmine Awais, associate professor in NDMU's Art Therapy Department and co-chair of the award committee. “All materials went through an extensive review process. The committee was impressed with Kristine’s overall CV, particularly the work she has done while at NDMU, and her personal statement. We hope that faculty were impressed by her presentation, and are inspired to continue with their research agendas and apply for the Fenster Faculty Research Award next year.”

The purpose of the Faculty Research Award is to recognize faculty that produced research or creative endeavors of exceptional quality in the last seven years that provided impact to a field or fields of study. The award was renamed this spring in recognition of endowment support provided by Dr. Mark Fenster, associate professor in the School of Education. Dr. Heather Folz, an Associate Professor of Clinical & Administrative Sciences in NDMU's School of Pharmacy, was the inaugural recipient in 2023.

The committee comprises of faculty whose research spans various methodologies and is an interdisciplinary group representing all schools at NDMU. The six-member committee, which is co-chaired by Dr. Awais and Dr. Nicole Dular, assistant professor in the Philosophy Department, reviews applicant submissions which include meeting several criteria:

• Expertise in research or creative area, relevant methodologies, and effective and ethical project management
• A record of high-quality refereed publications, juried creative activity, or other demonstrated scholarly outputs
• Evidence of independent and original contributions to research or creative activity, which have an impact on the field of expertise
• Effective research or commissioned income generation and infrastructure development strategies
• Demonstrated ability to attract and successfully mentor and train students in research

Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.