Xiaodong D Lin holds the Cleveland E. Dodge Professorship in Cognitive Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she also serves as Founding Director of the Education for Persistence and Innovation Center (EPIC). Her expertise spans cognitive science in education, motivational learning, and international education. She earned a Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology from Purdue University, an M.A. in Elementary Science Education from Louisiana State University, and a B.A. in Foreign Language Education from Teachers College, HeNan University. Dr. Lin’s research focuses on enhancing student resilience through integrating stories of famous scientists’ struggles into STEM curricula. Her work has been featured in outlets like NPR, BBC, and China’s People Daily. She leads the NSF-funded project on motivational instruction with Carol Dweck and advises the OECD’s Education 2030 Initiative. She also chairs the Advisory Board for China’s National Research Center for Ethnic Minority and Multicultural Education, addressing minority education challenges in both the U.S. and China. Her awards include AERA’s Career Achievement Award, Distinguished Research Award, and Carnegie Scholar distinction. Lin’s research emphasizes culturally responsive pedagogy, teacher education, and cross-cultural collaboration. She advocates for integrating self-enhancement goals into global educational frameworks and has developed curricula to reduce disparities in STEM engagement for minority and low-income students.
