Biography

A former New York City middle school mathematics and science teacher, Karen L. Anderson, Ph.D. joined the Education Studies Department at Stonehill College in 2003. Professor Anderson teaches 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, Professor Anderson was awarded the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching at Stonehill College in August 2019.  

Professor Anderson has published widely, including co-authoring a six-book series (‘Round the Rug) which teaches mathematics to young children through oral storytelling. More recently Professor Anderson was the Principal Investigator for a Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Grant - Communities of Practice: Teacher Preparation and Beyond ($1,199,965). Funded through the National Science Foundation, the purpose of this five-year grant was to reconceptualize the recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers of mathematics in high need schools and districts (PK through grade 12).  

Professor Anderson’s 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. Professor Anderson has served as an external evaluator, consultant, reviewer, and professional development provider at organizations including the National Science Teachers Association, Education Development Center (Waltham, MA), the Center for Early Learning Professionals (Warwick, RI), The Lynch School of Education at Boston College, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the National Center on Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness (Westlake Village, CA), the National Head Start Family Literacy Center (Sonoma, CA), and the Intel/Massachusetts DESE Mathematics Initiative.  

Education

  • B.S., M.S. in Biology from Long Island University
  • M.S. in Mathematics from Bank Street College of Education
  • Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Boston College

Accomplishments

  • Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching at Stonehill College (August 2019) 
  • National Science Foundation-Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships Program. Communities of Practice: Teacher Preparation and Beyond. ($1,199,965) Principal Investigator (August 2012) 

Courses Taught

  • Art, Music & Movement
  • Foundations of Education
  • Early Care & Education
  • Children in Preschools and Kindergarten
  • Practicum: Reflective Semina

Selected Publications, Articles & Presentations

  • 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

Hegarty Award Citation for Professor Karen Anderson

Stonehill College is proud to bestow the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching on Professor Karen Anderson, Professor of Education.