Alison Koenka

Dr. Alison Koenka is an Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma's Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, specializing in the Science of Psychology, Data, and Research in Education. Her work focuses on student motivation in STEM, feedback mechanisms, and equity for marginalized populations. She earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Duke University and completed postdoctoral training at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Koenka's research is funded by the William T. Grant Foundation, American Educational Research Association, and American Psychological Association. She teaches courses in human development and motivation, and has received notable awards including the Distinguished Junior Faculty Award (2021) and Paul R. Pintrich Dissertation Award (2017). Her lab explores two key areas: the motivational impact of academic feedback (including grading policies and teacher interactions) and promoting equitable experiences for underserved youth.

Her recent work includes strategies for integrating critical race theory in psychology education and systematic reviews on feedback practices for multilingual learners. Dr. Koenka currently serves as Program Chair for the AERA Motivation in Education Special Interest Group, demonstrating her leadership in advancing motivational theory.

• Key grants: William T. Grant Foundation, AERA, APA
• Expertise: STEM motivation, equity pedagogy, feedback systems
• Lab focuses: Curriculum-level feedback analysis, marginalized youth studies