Kristine E. Larson, Ed.D., is an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Loyola University Maryland. She received her B.A. in psychology at Loyola University Maryland in 2003 and her M.A. in teaching secondary social studies from Johns Hopkins University in 2005. After teaching social studies for seven years at a middle school in Baltimore County, she pursued and earned a doctorate in special education from Johns Hopkins University in 2015. Her passion for coaching teachers in supporting students with challenging behaviors allowed her to work as a postdoctoral research fellow with an interdisciplinary group of scholars from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the University of Virginia, and Sheppard Pratt Health System. During this time, she coached teachers in culturally responsive classroom management practices, bullying prevention strategies, and using multi-tiered systems to support safe and affirming school climates. Recognizing the central role well-being plays in improving these skills, Dr. Larson took courses and earned a teaching certificate in yoga from India’s Govardhan School of Yoga. Soon after, Dr. Larson worked as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Special Education at Saint Louis University (2018-2019), and then as an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University (2019-2024). In these roles, Dr. Larson taught special education courses and supported educators and students to live balanced and healthy lives. She currently serves as a Senior Fellow for the Human Flourishing Network through the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and is the founder and chair of the Justice for Flourishing interest group. Dr. Larson’s most recent research focuses on integrating, promoting, and supporting flourishing in education. For more information about Dr. Larson’s published research, please visit https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4930-9810.

Connect with Kristine About:

Individual, School, and Community Flourishing

Coaching

Contemplative Practices

Special Education Teacher Education and Preparation

Supporting Teachers of and Students with Emotional and Behavioral Challenges

Culturally Responsive Teaching

Justice for Flourishing