Jenefer Husman

Jenefer Husman is a Professor in the Critical and Sociocultural Studies in Education and Educational Foundations departments at the University of Oregon's College of Education. Her research examines how students' future-oriented thinking influences present learning, with a focus on creating equitable access to STEM education for under-served populations, particularly in engineering. She has received national recognition including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (2007) and an NSF CAREER award (2006).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, University of Texas at Austin (1998)
• M.A. in Cognition, Learning and Instruction, University of Texas at Austin (1996)
• B.S., The Evergreen State College (1992)
• Chinese Language and History, Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington (1990-1991)

Husman's work centers on time perspective theory and its application to educational motivation. She argues that envisioning future selves transforms present learning behaviors, especially in STEM contexts. Her research integrates cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions to explore how identity development and future thinking influence engagement in challenging academic environments. Recent projects examine physiological correlates of exam stress and strategies to reduce student resistance to active learning through faculty development initiatives.

Analysis of Husman's 2023-2025 publications reveals three dominant trends: (1) Multi-modal investigation of STEM identity development using physiological data (e.g., cortisol measurements during exams) and sociohistorical frameworks; (2) Systematic study of barriers to active learning adoption, particularly regarding gender, belongingness, and communal goals among diverse students; (3) Expansion of future time perspective theory through episodic future thinking interventions. Her work increasingly emphasizes collaborative networks like the Western Regional Noyce Network for scaling teacher development.

Scientific Awards:

• 2012 Keynote Speaker, 1st International Conference on Time Perspective
• 2010 Benjamin J. Dasher Award for Best Paper at Frontiers in Education Conference
• 2007 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
• 2006 National Science Foundation CAREER Award

Husman has secured significant grant funding including her NSF CAREER project connecting future time perspective to STEM career development. As Principal Investigator of the Western Regional Noyce Network, she directs multi-institutional efforts to recruit and retain STEM teachers through scholarships, mentoring, and innovative curriculum development. Her collaborative projects with engineering education researchers focus on translating resistance-reduction strategies into practical faculty development tools for community colleges and four-year institutions.

Husman leads research laboratories examining physiological responses during authentic learning experiences and co-directs the Gender & STEM Network exploring interventions to improve diversity in geosciences. Her current work integrates wearable technology with educational psychology to measure real-time emotional and cognitive responses in classroom settings.