Karen Huxtable-Jester

Karen Huxtable-Jester is a Senior Lecturer and Professor of Instruction in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. She has taught at UTD since 2000, previously teaching at institutions like The Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College. Her work focuses on the science of teaching and learning, emphasizing student engagement and reflective practices to drive educational change.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, The Ohio State University (1995)
  • M.S. in Clinical Child Psychology, The Ohio State University (1992)
  • B.S. in Psychology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst (1986)

Her research interests include developmental-social-educational psychology, particularly processes of teacher belief and practice change through self-reflection. She advocates for active learning, critical thinking, and the integration of original research into curricula to foster lifelong learning skills.

Her 2021 publication explores how physical and institutional spaces influence educational development, highlighting the importance of place-based approaches. She has received prestigious awards such as the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and was inducted into the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers.

• Awards:
  • 2019 Piper Professor
  • UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers (2019)
  • Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award

As a teaching support coordinator, Huxtable-Jester emphasizes relevance in coursework to motivate students and has shaped pedagogical practices at UTD through advocacy and mentorship.