Elizabeth K. Lawner

Dr. Lawner directs all research activities at ACUE. Prior to ACUE, she served as an instructor and teaching assistant at the University of Connecticut. At UConn, Lawner conducted research as part of the Stigma and Identity Management Lab, which focused on investigating the impact of contending with negative group stereotypes on one’s career choices, academic performance, and health outcomes. This research included a focus on both visible stigmatized identities, such as race and gender, as well as concealable stigmatized identities, such as socioeconomic status, mental health, and sexual orientation. Lawner’s primary research interest has been the recruitment and retention of women in science, technology, engineering, and math, particularly focused on higher education. Her work in this area on student reactions to performance feedback and role models led her to consider how instructors could play a part in increasing equity in education, an interest that brought her to ACUE.

Lawner graduated cum laude from Duke University, where she earned her BA in psychology. She holds an MA and Ph.D. in social psychology and a certificate in quantitative research methods, all from the University of Connecticut. Lawner also coauthored a research-based book for parents, Breaking Through! Helping Girls Succeed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, which received the 2017 Book of the Year Award, parent/caregiver category, from the National Association for Gifted Children.