Teresa Larkin is an Associate Professor of Physics Education in the Department of Computer Science, Audio Technology, and Physics. She also serves as Faculty Liaison to the Pre-engineering Program at American University.
Dr. Larkin received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering Physics from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD in 1982 and 1985, respectively. She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with special emphasis in Physics and Science Education from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS in 1997.
Dr. Larkin’s research interests primarily involve the assessment of student learning in introductory physics courses. She makes use of writing as a learning and assessment tool for understanding how non-majors learn physics. Embedded within this research is the study of how the formal assessment of student learning styles can enhance learning in physics. An additional focus of her research involves studying the role of technology as an assessment and learning tool.
Dr. Larkin has been an active member of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) for over 20 years. She served on the AAPT Minorities in Physics Committee from 1997 – 2000, was Chair of the Physics and Engineering Physics Division from 1994 – 1996 and from 1998 – 2004, and was Chair of the Women in Engineering Division from 2000 - 2002. Dr. Larkin served on the Board of Directors for ASEE from 1997 - 1999 as Chair of Professional Interest Council III (PIC III) and as Vice President of Professional Interest Councils. In 1998 she received the Distinguished Educator and Service Award from the Physics and Engineering Physics Division of ASEE. She served as a National Science Foundation ASEE Visiting Scholar during the 2000 - 2001 academic year. In April 2000 Dr. Larkin was awarded the Outstanding Teaching in the General Education Program Award from American University. In March 2002 Dr. Larkin received an award from the International Conference on Engineering and Technology Education (ICECE2002) held in Santos, Brazil in recognition of her Distinguished Contributions to the Enhancement of Engineering and Technology Education in the World. She received an ICECE2003 award in recognition of Meritorious and Distinguished Services for the Betterment of Education and Science in the World. Dr. Larkin received the Meritorious Services & Significant Contributions in the Engineering and Technology Field in the World and at the Betterment of Contemporary Society award at the World Congress on Engineering and Technology Education (WCETE2004) held in Guarujá, Brazil. She was awarded the Excellence Award in Recognition of Merit Determined by Overall Contributions to the International Community of Engineering and Technology Education in the World at the Global Congress on Engineering and Technology Education (GCETE2005) held in Santos, Brazil. Dr. Larkin received the Excellence Award in Recognition of Meritorious Services and Outstanding Contributions in the Fields of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology Education in the 21st Century at the World Congress on Computer Science, Engineering, and Technology Education (WCCSETE 2006) held in Itanhaém, Brazil. Dr. Larkin recently received an Honoring Award in Recognition of Extraordinary Achievements and Contributions to the Fields of Engineering and Computer Education Worldwide at the International Conference on Engineering and Computer Education (ICECE2007) in Santos/Monguaguá, Brazil.
In her free time, Dr. Larkin enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family, including the family cat, Mikaela Rose. She also enjoys preparing (and especially eating) Indian, Ethiopian, Chinese, and Thai cuisines. Dr. Larkin can be reached at: American University, Department of Computer Science, Audio Technology, and Physics, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016-8058; 202-885-2766. [tlarkin@american.edu]