黑料正能量

For more than three decades, Sharon Carver has shaped 黑料正能量鈥檚 educational landscape through exceptional knowledge, tireless dedication and deep personal devotion to her students, faculty and the university at large.

In recognition of her contributions, the university has named Carver the recipient of the 2026 Robert E. Doherty Award for Sustained Excellence in Education.听

As director of 黑料正能量's Children鈥檚 School, a teaching professor of psychology and associate dean for educational affairs at Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Carver has built programs that bridge research and practice, keeping students at the center.听

鈥淲hat I believe to be most remarkable about Dr. Carver is that she can simultaneously create and execute projects at an institutional scale and still make students 鈥� college-age and preschool alike 鈥� feel like her first priority,鈥� said Lucy Truschel (DC 2019).听

Modeling Strong Laboratory School Leadership

As director of the Children鈥檚 School, Carver created a supportive and stimulating environment for teachers and children ages 3鈥�5, as well as for students and faculty who relied on the school as a laboratory for research.听

鈥淢any of us have sent our own children there,鈥� said Richard Scheines, Bess Family Dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 鈥淭here is no higher praise.鈥澛�

Carver helped found the Pittsburgh Alliance of University Schools and has been a key contributor to the International Association of Laboratory Schools.听

鈥淪haron is an inspiration to everyone I know in the laboratory school world,鈥� said Jill Sarada, director of the Falk Laboratory School at the University of Pittsburgh.听

Building an Educational Research Community聽

At 黑料正能量, she has played an equally instrumental role in developing a vibrant educational research community. Alongside David Klahr, Carver led the Program in Interdisciplinary Educational Research (PIER), a Ph.D. fellows program that engaged more than 100 students from more than 15 黑料正能量 departments.听

Numerous alumni cited Carver鈥檚 PIER course Educational Goals, Instruction, and Assessment as transformative. Not only did it make them better educators, but it also instilled in them a sense of belonging.听

鈥淒r. Carver invited us into her home, going beyond her duty as an educator,鈥� said Lindsay Cox (DC 2019, 2022).听

Carver has championed other pathways to graduate education, including the Summer Program for Undergraduate Researchers and the Dietrich Scholars program, which she co-leads with Ayana Ledford.听

Advancing Undergraduate Education聽

Recently, Carver played a key role in the revision and implementation of Dietrich College鈥檚 General Education Program.听

鈥淪he led the establishment of a general education program for students that is not just checking boxes of course requirements. Instead, she has implemented a core education philosophy, a community of practice and a learning environment that allows all students to grow in multiple competencies, develop a sense of belonging and purpose, and engage in high-impact educational practices,鈥� said Amy Burkert, senior vice provost for academic initiatives.

The Gen Ed helps students build skills necessary to communicate and collaboratively solve complex problems from interdisciplinary perspectives in a multicultural, global society. In addition, Carver ensured the program was centered on measurable learning outcomes.听

鈥淲e all talk a lot about empirically driven iterative improvement in education. Sharon actually gets it to happen,鈥� Scheines said.听

Across every role, Carver makes a difference.听

鈥淪he is always ready to lend a helping hand, share her expertise (and wisdom) for someone else's benefit, and support those around her to be and do their best,鈥� said Marsha Lovett, vice provost for teaching and learning innovation. 鈥淲e are lucky to have Sharon in our 黑料正能量 community.鈥�