Dr. Dawn Kriebel Receives Lindback Award

Dr. Dawn Kriebel, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for the Advancement of Scholarship, Teaching and Learning Excellence, received the 2026 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award at the undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 17. The award is given to a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching.

Dr. Kriebel started teaching at Immaculata in 2002 after completing her Ph.D. in Human Development at the University of Maryland. Dr. Kriebel’s research focuses on the development of children at-risk, including foster children, adopted children, and children from low-income families. She has published her research in numerous journals, including Early Childhood Development and Care, Adoption Quarterly, and Children and Youth Services Review.

Most recently, Dr. Kriebel began a new line of research as a result of discussions her students were having in her Child Development class about children’s use of screen time.

Dr. Kriebel’s students state that she “always shows up to class with a positive attitude. She is so kind and makes the class highly enjoyable. She shows patience and interest when others have ideas to express.”

Dr. Kriebel has mentored many students in research projects, resulting in presentations at Posters Under the Dome and at professional conferences in Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia. Most of these students have gone on to pursue graduate studies and some of them have returned to the Psychology and Counseling department as adjunct instructors.

Dr. Kriebel served as the Program Director for Undergraduate Psychology from 2014–2024. She has also served on numerous committees, including University Council, Academic Personnel, Promotion and Tenure, and two Middle States committees. She also serves as the Moderator for Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.

Dr. Kriebel states that her favorite thing about teaching is that one can always find a way to improve. She also notes the best thing about teaching psychology is that it is an ever-changing science, and it is always so exciting to share news of recent scientific developments with her students!