SHU Professors Earn Naclerio Faculty Scholars Award

Their research will focus on students’ classroom experiences and the effects of civic education

Sacred Heart University professors Kathryn (Katie) Kroeper, Eleni (Marylena) M. Mantas-Kourounis and Todd L. Matthews are this year’s Richard and Barbara Naclerio Faculty Scholars Program award recipients.

The scholars program awards two grants, totaling $25,000, annually to support the work of emerging academic leaders among SHU’s faculty. Their research must result in a significant contribution to their field of study, with a secondary goal of publishing their findings.

The program is open to all junior, tenure-track faculty in good standing from across all disciplines. Applicants must demonstrate interest in and capability for conducting scholarly research that benefits the academic community.

Kroeper studies role of teachers’ beliefs in shaping classroom environments

Kroeper, an assistant professor of psychology, will use the grant to support her project, “Cultivating Growth & Resilience: Teacher Influence on Mindset Cultures in the Classroom.” Her goal is to learn from teachers how their beliefs and practices shape classroom environments.

She also plans to develop strategies that help teachers create settings that nurture and sustain growth mindset beliefs—the idea that struggle is a natural part of learning and that academic abilities can be improved through hard work, effective study strategies and a readiness to seek help. Her project builds on her previous research demonstrating the critical role teachers play in shaping classroom mindset cultures.

Kroeper’s work has the potential to influence teacher training programs and policy development, positively contributing to the learning and psychological well-being of students within the SHU community and beyond. “Understanding and addressing the barriers teachers face in promoting growth mindset cultures can lead to wiser, more targeted interventions that knock down these barriers,” said Kroeper.

“By focusing on teachers’ perspectives, my team and I aim to bridge gaps in current understanding and develop practical tools that can be integrated into teacher training programs,” she continued. “We aspire to promote educational environments where resilience and academic growth are actively supported, benefiting both teachers and students.”

The grant will pay participating teachers, with a small amount earmarked for targeted social media advertising to recruit local educators.

Mantas-Kourounis and Matthews study the effects of civic education on political participation

Mantas-Kourounis, assistant professor of political science & global affairs, and Matthews, associate professor of sociology, criminology & criminal justice, will pursue their project, “The Effects of Civic Education, Political Information and Political Memories on Political Participation and Self-Censorship.”

To understand the relationship between students’ civic education, political information, memories, their political involvement and self-censorship, Mantas-Kourounis and Matthews will conduct a quantitative analysis using data gathered from a survey they created. The survey will be circulated electronically to a cohort of SHU students starting in late August.

“Our research comes at a time when this University, through the Pioneer Journey Advisory Committee, has been actively reflecting on how to foster a community grounded in courageous civil discourse,” said Mantas-Kourounis. “We welcome the prospect of sharing our findings with colleagues and students and engaging with them in reflective, meaningful discussions about our student body and its relationship with participatory and civic outcomes.”

Mantas-Kourounis and Matthews will use the grant funds to purchase statistical analysis software and pay registration fees and travel-related expenses to the Northeastern Political Science Association’s annual conference in November in Boston, where they will present their initial findings. They will present additional findings at the Eastern Sociological Society’s conference in Boston in March.

About the Naclerios

The Naclerios are a generous family who have provided financial support to various organizations. Barbara Naclerio said her late husband wanted to do something for the faculty as he recognized their significant impact on students. In 2013, the Richard and Barbara Naclerio Faculty Scholars Program was created to support and facilitate the work of emerging academic leaders at SHU.

“Our SHU community, especially our faculty, are thankful to the Naclerio family for their philanthropic investment in our academic enterprise,” said Paul J. Sutera, senior vice president of University advancement. “We are fortunate to have Barbara and the Naclerio family as important members of our SHU family.”