The Praxis Lab

Lorien (she; her) is an assistant professor in Educational Measurement and Research (Qualitative Inquiry)  at the University of South Florida.

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As a qualitative methodologist, Lorien conduct's critical inquiries into the reproduction of (non)belonging with an eye towards increasing equity and justice across transdisciplinary domains. Ultimately, these interests invoke the ethics and justice of research, which she addresses through three lines of inquiry: (1) exploring the contextual dimensions of research, (2) critical theoretical studies of cultural discourses, and (3) transforming methodology to address disparities in health and education. Lorien has conducted this work in the United States, New Zealand, Cambodia, and Samoa, with a diverse range of stakeholders and a variety of qualitative and participatory methodologies.

 

Lorien’s research has been fully-funded by a Fulbright award, awarded AAMFT’s 2019 Dissertation Award, AAMFT’s Cutting-Edge Research designation, NCFR’s Feldman Outstanding Research Proposal in Family Policy, and supported by the University of Georgia’s Innovative and Interdisciplinary Research grant.

 

Lorien has served in multiple leadership positions, including her appointment by the Governor to serve on The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapist, the licensing board for Georgia under the Secretary of State. She served as the Secretary/Treasurer (2022-2023), for AERA’s, Professors of Educational Research SIG, and on the Book Awards Committee (2021 - 2024), for AERA’s Qualitative Research SIG. Lorien is on the editorial board for The Qualitative Report, The Journal of Critical Theory and Praxis, and Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology.

 

In 2018, Lorien received the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Human Development and Family Science with a specialization in Interdisciplinary Qualitative Research from the University of Georgia. Before joining the University of South Florida, Lorien was an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas, in the Educational Statistics and Research Methods program.