Karen L. Anderson

Karen L. Anderson

Professor of Education, CETL Faculty Director

karenanderson@stonehill.edu
508-565-1073
Library 315C
Education

Biography

A former New York City middle school mathematics and science teacher, Karen L. Anderson has been a professor in the Department of Education at Stonehill College since 2003. In addition to supervising practicum students (student teachers), she taught a variety of educational foundations courses (across all licensure levels), as well as courses specific to early childhood education. As a testament to her practice, she was awarded the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching at Stonehill College in August 2019 and was appointed the institution’s inaugural Faculty Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in July 2021.

Anderson has published widely. Her research interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), curriculum development (with an emphasis on mathematics and science) and the professional development of practitioners in the field. She also serves as an external evaluator, consultant, reviewer and professional development provider at organizations including: 

  • The Education Development Center (Waltham, Massachusetts)
  • The Center for Early Learning Professionals (Warwick, Rhode Island)
  • The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
  • The National Center on Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness (Westlake Village, California)
  • The National Head Start Family Literacy Center (Sonoma, California)
  • The Intel/Massachusetts DESE Mathematics Initiative 

Additionally, she served on the Board of Directors for the Crispus Attucks Children’s Center (Dorchester, Massachusetts).

Education

  • Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, Boston College
  • M.S., Mathematical Leadership, Bank Street College
  • M.S., Biology, Long Island University
  • B.S., Biology, Long Island University

Selected Grants, Publications & Presentations

Anderson has received numerous grants including, but not limited to:

  • Capacity Building Grant from the Educating Character Initiative at the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University - Compassion and Justice for the Common Good: Character Formation and Service in the Holy Cross Tradition (July 2026)
  • Professional Development Award from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) - Leading With Hope: Defining Vocational Exploration in the Holy Cross Tradition (2025)
  • Teacher-Scholar Grant from the Educating Character Initiative at the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University - Educating the Heart and Mind: Establishing a Data-driven Approach to Character Development in the Holy Cross Tradition (2024)
  • Collegium Catalyst Grant - Catholic Intellectual Life in General Education (2023), and a Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Grant - Communities of Practice: Teacher Preparation and Beyond (2012)
  • Hirst, R., Anderson, K. L., Packard, B. W., Liotta, L., Bleakley, B., Lombardi, P. & Burkholder, K. (Accepted). Faculty Learning at the Individual and Group Level: A Multi-Year Analysis of an Interdisciplinary Science FLC Focused on Inclusive Teaching and Mentoring. Journal of College Science Teaching. 
  • Anderson, K. L., Boyd, M., Marin, K. A., and McNamara, K. (2019). Re-imagining Service Learning: Deepening the Impact of this High-Impact Practice. Journal of Experiential Education, 42(3), 229-248. 
  • Yang, E., Anderson, K. L., and Burke, B.** (2018). The impact of service-learning on teacher candidates’ self-efficacy in teaching STEM content to diverse learners. In K. Tice & V. M. Jagla (Ed.) Advances in Service-Learning Research. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. 
  • Vasilyeva, M., Casey, M. B., Ganley, C., Dulaney, A. Tillinger, M. & Anderson, K. L. (2013). Cognition and Instruction. How children determine the size of 3-D structures: Investigating factors influencing strategy choice.
  • Mooney, S.M., & Anderson, K.L. (summer 2011). Transformative learning and teaching of environmental science, from college sophomores to urban children, Science Education and Civic Engagement: An International Journal. p. 38-43.
  • Anderson, K.L., Casey, M.B., Thompson, W.L., Burrage, M.S. Pezaris, E, & Kosslyn, S.M. (2008, December). Performance on middle school geometry problems with geometry clues matched to three different cognitive styles. Mind, Brain, and Education. p. 187-196.

**work done in conjunction with Stonehill College students or alumni

  • Anderson, K. L. (2019, November). Keynote speaker: Early Childhood Institute, University of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island. 
  • Tarchara**, D., Claveau**, S., DiPina**, L., Marin, K. A. & Anderson, K. L. (2018, November). To Track or Not to Track? How Ability Grouping Impacts Access and Equity in Schools. Presentation at From Hope to Action: Creating Change for a Brighter Stonehill (10th Annual Conference on Diversity & Inclusion). Stonehill College, Easton, MA. 
  • Anderson, K. L. (2018, July). The NUMB3RS Project: Immersion in Practice. Poster presented at the 2018 Noyce Summit: Towards a 2026 STEM Education - Implications of Convergent Science for K-12 STEM Teacher Preparation in the Face of Changing Student Demographics. Washington, DC. 
  • Boyd, M., & Anderson, K. L., (2018, June). Re-Imagining Service-Learning: Deepening the Impact of this High-Impact Practice. Presentation at the Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching and Learning in Bethesda, Maryland. 
  • Anderson, K. L. & Marin, K. A. (2018, February). Deepening the Impact of Early Field Experiences. Poster presented at the Association of Mathematics Teachers Educators. Houston, TX. 
  • Marin, K. A. & Anderson, K. L. (2018, February). Non-traditional Service Learning as Field Experience: The NUMB3RS Project. Presentation at the Association of Mathematics Teachers Educators. Houston, TX. 
  • Yang, E., Anderson, K. L. and Burke, B.** (2012, June). The impact of service-learning on teacher candidates’ self-efficacy in teaching STEM content to diverse learners. Presentation at the International Center for Service-Learning in Teacher Education (ICSLTE) Conference, Durham, North Carolina.
  • Anderson, K.L. (2011, November) Four year olds are NOT just small ten year olds, Part II. Invited Address for the Massachusetts Audubon Society Department of Education and Diversity, Belmont, Massachusetts.
  • Anderson, K.L. (2011, July) Understanding and fostering early math development. Invited address for the Early Childhood Leadership Series: Reflect, Renew, Re-energize. Rhode Island and Maine Training and Technical Assistance Project. Warwick, Rhode Island.
  • Martin, D.M. and Anderson, K.L. (2011, March) KWL+ 4-R’s and inquiry = Science success. Presentation at The National Conference on Science Education, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), San Francisco, California.
  • Anderson, K.L., Mooney, S., Martin, D.M., Gilfeather**, D., Klemonsky**, N., and Montano**, B., (2010, March) Project-based learning and the 4Rs of inquiry: Engaging students in urban explorations. Short Course presented at The National Conference on Science Education, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

**Work done in conjunction with Stonehill College students and alumni

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