Hillary H. Steiner

Hillary H. Steiner is Professor of Educational Psychology in the Department of Psychological Science at Kennesaw State University and Associate Director for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) at the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). Her work bridges educational research and practical application in higher education settings.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (Applied Cognition and Development Program), University of Georgia (2003)
• M.A. in Educational Psychology, University of Georgia (2000)
• B.S. in Education, Birmingham-Southern College (1998)

Dr. Steiner's research focuses on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) methodology, metacognition, and self-regulated learning in postsecondary contexts. She investigates how students develop effective study strategies and how faculty can design evidence-based teaching practices. Her work emphasizes the science of learning applied to real-world educational challenges, particularly in first-year student transitions.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals consistent thematic development in SoTL infrastructure, with increasing focus on practical implementation tools. Her 2023-2025 work shows particular emphasis on inclusive pedagogy, failure tolerance in educational research, and digital frameworks like Hopscotch 4-SoTL for strengthening SoTL methodology.

She received the USG Board of Regents’ SoTL Award in 2017 for her significant contributions to the field.

While specific grant funding isn't detailed in available materials, Dr. Steiner actively mentors University System of Georgia SoTL Fellows and has held leadership roles including ISSOTL Vice President (US Region), SoTL Summit Conference Chair, and founder of the POD Network's SoTL Special Interest Group.

Her collaborative work with Iván Jorrín Abellán on Hopscotch 4-SoTL represents a major contribution to SoTL infrastructure, providing an open-access framework for developing rigorous research designs. She also plays a central role in the SoTL Summit and ISSOTL communities, advancing international dialogue on teaching scholarship.