Very little falls beyond a dedicated and compassionate leader's reach!
About Dr. Jennifer Lauria
Educational Consultant, Innovative Learning Specialist, Professor, Author, Wellness Advocate
As a passionate, caring, and accomplished career educational leader, Dr. Lauria dedicated the first decade of her career to teaching grades PreK-5 in the New York City public school system at P.S. 22, a diverse elementary school that provided a solid foundation for her journey as an educator, which still holds such a special place in her heart full of fond memories, professional growth experiences, and cherished friendships.
Immediately following a decade of classroom teaching at P.S. 22, during which time she earned a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, she transitioned into the next phase of her career in higher education as a full-time Professor of Education at Wagner College in New York City for nearly 2 decades, where she earned tenure and held the rank of Full Professor
21st Century Academic Forum
Harvard Medical School (2018)
She worked tirelessly as a teacher educator in her long-time faculty role there and served as Director of both the undergraduate and Master’s level dual certification Childhood Education (1-6) programs, as well as Department Chair.
Dr. Lauria’s combined teaching and administrative experiences spanning over 30 years as an educational leader helped her develop quite a broad range of knowledge, skills, and dispositions, which she’s used to advocate for high-quality, equitable, and innovative modes of education for all learners and to support educators, administrators, and families toward that end.
Areas of Expertise
Drawing from her extensive experience as a career educator, Dr.Lauria’s areas of expertise include:
- Educational Leadership
- Teacher Education
- Professional and Personal Development Mentoring
- Health and Wellness Education through Lifestyle Medicine Approaches
- Curriculum Design and Development
- Program Evaluation, Assessment, and Accreditation
- Innovative Childhood and Higher Education Pedagogy
- Community Building
- Teaching and Learning Styles
- Fostering Collaboration and Engagement in Virtual Learning Environments
- Educational Technologies and Remote Learning Strategies
- Use of Mindfulness Methods and a Growth-Mindset Approach to Support Students’ Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Personalized Instruction
- Arts Integration
- Innovative Instructional Methods and Assessments for Interdisciplinary Teaching (ELA, Science, Math, Tech, Arts, Social Studies, Physical Education, and Health) to Prepare Students for Success as 21st-Century Learners
Awards and Recognitions
Distinguished Educator Award
Wagner College
New York City, 2016
Commencement Address:
Be True to Yourself
Notre Dame Academy High School
New York City, 2008
Lifestyle and Wellness
Coaching
Harvard Medical School
April 2025
Health and Wellness: Desigining a Sustainable Nutrition Plan
Harvard Medical School
January 2025
Scholarship
Dr. Lauria has been granted multiple opportunities to present her work in teacher education and virtual learning environments at leading academic conferences. Topics included practical applications of innovative instructional approaches she designed and implemented in undergraduate and graduate teacher education programs to prepare future educational leaders for dual certification in general education/special education, and enhancing virtual learning environments as follows:
Conference Presentations
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Harvard Medical School’s 21st Century Academic Forum
Mindfulness Methods and a Growth Mindset Approach as Social-Emotional Learning Supports (Boston, MA – 2018) -
Learning and the Brain’s Educating Mindful Minds Annual Conference
Use of Mindfulness Methods, Meditation, and Growth Mindsets as Social and Emotional Learning Supports (New York City – 2018) -
International Future of Education Conference
Empowering Educators to Support Social and Emotional Learning Through Mindfulness, Meditation, and a Growth Mindset Approach (Florence, Italy – 2018) -
International Future of Education Conference
Empowering Learners to Strive Toward Mastery of 21st Century Competencies Through Use of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Growth Mindset Language (Florence, Italy – 2017, Virtual) -
International Academic Forum on Research (IAFOR)
Promoting Meaningful Collaboration in Virtual Learning Environments (Brighton, UK – 2014) -
Oxford University’s Educational Research Symposium
Effective Instructional Strategies for Virtual Learning Environments in Higher Education (Oxfordshire, UK – 2013) -
International Technology, Education, and Development Conference (INTED-11)
Collaborative Learning: A Framework for Discussion (Valencia, Spain – 2011) -
International Conference on Education, Research, and Innovation (ICERI-11)
Differentiated Instruction for Adult Learners in Professional Programs: Meeting the Challenges of Supporting Diverse Learners in Nursing and Teacher Education (Madrid, Spain – 2011) -
International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN – 2010)
Fostering Online Collaboration to Enhance Learning: Multiple Perspectives on Practical Applications in Teacher Education (Barcelona, Spain – 2010) -
International Conference of Education, Research, and Innovation (ICERI-09)
Creating Productive Online Collaborative Learning Communities That Empower All Students to Succeed: Reflections on Pedagogical E-Learning Strategies Implemented in a Teacher Education Program (Madrid, Spain – 2009, Virtual) -
Wagner College Innovation Celebration: Teaching and Learning Symposium
Virtual Learning Environments in Professional Programs: Online Pedagogy Implemented in Teacher Education and Nursing Programs (New York City – 2014) -
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Faculty Roles in High-Impact Practices: Building, Promoting, and Supporting Successful Collaborative Online Learning Communities (Philadelphia, PA – 2010) -
ASCD Annual Conference
Learning Style-Responsive Teacher- and Student-Made Resources to Support Teacher Candidates in Differentiating Instruction for All Students (Anaheim, CA – 2007) -
NYSATE/NYACTE Spring Conference
Use of Tactual and Kinesthetic Instructional Resources for Differentiating Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom (Saratoga Springs, NY – 2007) -
Biennial Convocation of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education
Tactual and Kinesthetic Instructional Resources for Differentiating Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom (Louisville, KY – 2007) -
Second Annual Reflective Practices Conference, St. John’s University
Reflections on Teaching and Learning Styles (New York City – 2004) -
NYSATE/NYACTE Conference
No Longer Scrapbooks – College LiveText as an Electronic Portfolio Platform for NCATE Preparation (Saratoga Springs, NY – 2004) -
25th Annual International Learning Styles Institute
Effect(s) of Learning-Style Based Homework Prescriptions on the Achievement and Attitudes of Middle School Students (New York City – 2002)
International Academic Forum’s European Conference Series (2014, Brighton, UK)
Blind, Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters
As an extension of Dr. Lauria’s work as a community-engaged scholar, she has published several blind, peer-reviewed book chapters and manuscripts.
- Lauria, J. (2021): Techniques for creating trauma-sensitive learning environments for children. In Gonzalez, K. & Frumkin, R. (Eds), Trauma Informed Classrooms: What We Say and Do Matters. Boston: Brill Publishing.
- Lauria, J. (2016): Fostering development of 21st-century competencies and global citizenship through constructivist-based and learning-style responsive pedagogy. In Gonzalez, K. & Frumkin, R. (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Effective Communication in Culturally Diverse Classrooms. IGI Publishing.
- Lauria, J. (2014): Promoting mutual respect and democratic practice in diverse learning environments to support positive classroom management. In Cohan, A. & Honigsfeld, A. (Eds.), Breaking the Mold of Classroom Management: What educators should know and do to enable student success (pp.119-126). Maryland: Rowan & Littlefield Education.
- Gonzalez, K., Frumkin, R., & Lauria, J. (2012): Study groups and service learning: A framework for discussion for pre-service teachers. In T. Murphy (Ed.), Service Learning and Educating in Challenging Contexts: International Perspectives. London: Continuum Publishing.
- Lauria, J. (2003): Emotional learning style preferences. In Dunn, R. and Griggs, S.A., Synthesis of the Dunn and Dunn Learning-Style Model Research: Who, What, When, Where and So What? Jamaica, NY: Center for Teaching and Learning Styles.
Blind, Peer-Reviewed Published Manuscripts
- Lauria, J. & O’Hare, L. (2014): Virtual Learning Environments in Higher Education: Online Pedagogical Techniques Implemented in Accredited American Teacher Education and Nursing Programs. Journal of Academic Perspectives, 3, 1-18.
- Lauria, J. & Preskill, S. (2011): Building, promoting, and supporting successful online learning communities: Practical applications for effective collaboration from an accredited New York City teacher education program. Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning, 6(1), 41-55.
- Lauria, J. (Fall, 2010): Differentiation through learning style responsive strategies: Empowering middle school students to teach themselves through differentiation based on individualized learning-style-based homework prescriptions. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 47(1), 24-29.
- Lauria, J. (March 2005): Individualizing instruction through the use of learning-style based homework prescriptions. The National Association of Secondary School Principals Bulletin (NASSP), 89(643), 67-89.
Community Service
- Trustee, Staten Island Children’s Museum (SICM) at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens, New York City (2007-2017)
Florence, Italy (2018)
Presentation Title: Empowering Educators to Support Social and Emotional Learning Through Mindfulness, Meditation, and a Growth Mindset Approach