Katalin Szelenyi

Katalin Szelenyi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership in Education at the University of Massachusetts Boston, within the College of Education and Human Development. Her academic work bridges higher education policy, STEM education, and global citizenship, with a strong emphasis on equity and inclusion.

Research Interests: Dr. Szelenyi’s research centers on higher education’s role in the public good, particularly in STEM fields. She investigates faculty and doctoral student experiences, focusing on work-life balance, identity formation, and academic capitalism. Her work critically examines gender, race, ethnicity, and national origin through an intersectional lens. She also explores the globalization of higher education and the experiences of international students.

Publications and Research Trends: Her recent publications reflect a sustained focus on the interplay between institutional structures and individual experiences in academia. Themes include the commercialization of research, living-learning programs, and the socialization of STEM doctoral students. Her work combines qualitative methods with comparative and international perspectives, often highlighting systemic inequities and proposing policy-relevant insights.

Scientific Awards:

• AERA Division J Exemplary Publication Award (2012)
• ASHE Council for International Higher Education Book Award (2013)
• Bobby Wright Dissertation Citation for Excellence

Advising and Grants: While specific students are not listed, her involvement in the National Study of Living Learning Programs (NSLLP), funded by the National Science Foundation, highlights her experience with large-scale research projects. She has mentored junior researchers and served on editorial boards, including Research in Higher Education. Her leadership roles in AERA and ASHE demonstrate her national impact in the field.

Labs and Teams: Dr. Szelenyi was a Post-Doctoral Research Associate on the NSLLP team at the University of Maryland, a major mixed-methods study. Though no current lab is mentioned, her collaborative research network includes scholars like Robert A. Rhoads, Nancy Denson, and Kristen Bresonis, indicating active engagement in research teams focused on higher education equity and policy.