Robert E. Doherty Award for Sustained Contributions to Excellence in Education
Sharon Carver
Professor of Psychology; Emeritus Director, Children’s School; Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Science
For more than three decades, Sharon Carver(opens in new window) has shaped Carnegie Mellon University’s educational landscape through exceptional knowledge, tireless dedication and deep personal devotion to her students, faculty and the university at large.
As director of CMU’s Children’s School(opens in new window), teaching professor of psychology and associate dean for educational affairs at Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences(opens in new window), Carver has built programs that bridge research and practice, keeping students at the center.
“What I believe to be most remarkable about Dr. Carver is that she can simultaneously create and execute projects at an institutional scale and still make students — college-age and preschool alike — feel like her first priority,” said Lucy Truschel (DC 2019).
As director of the Children’s School, Carver created a supportive and stimulating environment for teachers and children ages 3-5, as well as for students and faculty who relied on the school as a laboratory for research.
“Many of us have sent our own children there,” said Richard Scheines(opens in new window), Bess Family Dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “There is no higher praise.”
Carver helped found the Pittsburgh Alliance of University Schools and has been a key contributor to the International Association of Laboratory Schools.
“Sharon is an inspiration to everyone I know in the laboratory school world,” said Jill Sarada, director of the Falk Laboratory School at the University of Pittsburgh.
At CMU, she has played an equally instrumental role in developing a vibrant educational research community. Alongside David Klahr(opens in new window), Carver led the Program in Interdisciplinary Educational Research(opens in new window) (PIER), a Ph.D. fellows program that engaged more than 100 students from more than 15 CMU departments.
Numerous alumni cited Carver’s PIER course Educational Goals, Instruction, and Assessment as transformative. Not only did it make them better educators, but it also instilled in them a sense of belonging.
“Dr. Carver invited us into her home, going beyond her duty as an educator,” said Lindsay Cox (DC 2019, 2022).
Carver has championed other pathways to graduate education, including the Summer Program for Undergraduate Researchers(opens in new window) and the Dietrich College Scholars(opens in new window) program, which she co-leads with Ayana Ledford.
Recently, Carver played a key role in the revision and implementation of Dietrich College’s General Education Program(opens in new window).
“She led the establishment of a general education program for students that is not just checking boxes of course requirements. Instead, she has implemented a core education philosophy, a community of practice and a learning environment that allows all students to grow in multiple competencies, develop a sense of belonging and purpose, and engage in high-impact educational practices,” said Amy Burkert(opens in new window), senior vice provost for academic initiatives.
The General Education Program helps students build skills necessary to communicate and collaboratively solve complex problems from interdisciplinary perspectives in a multicultural, global society. In addition, Carver ensured the program was centered on measurable learning outcomes.
“We all talk a lot about empirically driven iterative improvement in education. Sharon actually gets it to happen,” Scheines said.
Across every role, Carver makes a difference.
“She is always ready to lend a helping hand, share her expertise and wisdom for someone else’s benefit, and support those around her to be and do their best,” said Marsha Lovett(opens in new window), vice provost for teaching and learning innovation. “We are lucky to have Sharon in our CMU community.”
— Abby Simmons
“Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The institution was originally established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical School. In 1912, it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology and began granting four-year degrees.”
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