Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lene Vestad | Educational Psychology | Best Researcher Award

University of Stavanger | Norway

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lene Vestad is an accomplished educational scientist specializing in social-emotional learning, motivation, classroom relations, and adolescent mental health. She is currently an Associate Professor at the Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioral Research in Education, University of Stavanger. Her academic journey reflects a strong dedication to exploring how students can experience meaningful, deep learning through engaging teaching practices and supportive relationships with teachers and peers. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Scandinavian languages, she has contributed significantly to national and international research through publications, conference presentations, and collaborative projects. Her leadership in developing research on teacher support, mental health, and motivation has positioned her as an influential scholar in the field of educational sciences. She actively engages with schools, policymakers, and communities, promoting evidence-based practices that foster resilience, well-being, and academic achievement among young learners. Her career reflects a commitment to bridging research and practice in education.

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Education:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lene Vestad holds a PhD in Educational Sciences from the University of Stavanger, where her dissertation focused on the role of social and emotional competencies in academic efficacy, stress, and emotional well-being among adolescents. She also earned a Master’s degree in Special Education from the same institution, with research exploring the ways inclusive education can support diverse learners, especially students with additional learning needs. Her academic foundation began with a Bachelor’s degree in Preschool Teaching and Early Educational Care , also at the University of Stavanger, which provided her with a strong pedagogical grounding. These degrees reflect her holistic approach to education, linking early childhood development, special education, and adolescent mental health. In addition, she has completed professional pedagogical programs, including UniPed and NyTi qualifications in higher education teaching, supervision, and career development programs, which enhance her ability to mentor students and lead innovative teaching practices.

Experience:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lene Vestad has more than three decades of experience in education, spanning preschool leadership, special education, counselling, lecturing, and research. She began her career as Deputy Leader and Department Leader at Christiania cultural preschools in Oslo , later serving as Deputy Leader at Husebøstykket preschool until  she worked as a Special Education Teacher in Stavanger municipality, followed by a role as Educational Psychological Counsellor. She transitioned to higher education as a University Lecturer at the University of Stavanger  where she also contributed to master’s supervision and course teaching during her PhD fellowship. she became Associate Professor at the Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment, where she now leads projects, develops teaching curricula, supervises PhD students, and contributes actively to national and international collaborations on student mental health, motivation, and learning. Her professional journey reflects a seamless integration of practice-based insights with scholarly expertise.

Awards and Honors:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lene Vestad career is marked by recognition through leadership in high-profile research projects and appointments to trusted academic roles. She has been awarded multiple internal research and innovation fundings, including  her REAL project on authentic learning experiences and  her teacher recruitment and work situation study. She has also secured major national funding through the Norwegian Research Council, including the Resilient project, reflecting the trust in her expertise and research vision. Her honors include serving as a peer reviewer for prestigious journals such as Motivation Science, Social Psychology of Education, and the Journal of the Norwegian Psychological Association. She has been appointed as a national representative for the European Association for Research on Adolescence and is a member of the Society for Research on Child Development. Her invited roles in symposium leadership, doctoral evaluations, and ministry consultations highlight her recognized standing in the educational research community.

Research Focus:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lene Vestad research centers on the intersections of social-emotional learning, motivation, mental health, and classroom dynamics, with a strong focus on adolescence and secondary education. She investigates how teacher and peer relationships influence growth mindset, engagement, and academic achievement, using advanced quantitative methods and longitudinal models. Her work also explores coping strategies for academic stress, fostering resilience, and supporting student well-being in schools. As a principal investigator and collaborator, she leads projects on life skills implementation, psychosocial learning factors, authentic classroom learning, and teacher support for student mental health. Her research is not only theory-driven but also practice-oriented, providing actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and schools. By engaging in both national and international collaborations, she contributes to developing evidence-based practices that bridge research with classroom realities. Her publications in top-tier journals and active dissemination through conferences and outreach activities underscore her commitment to impactful, student-centered educational research.

Publication:

Title: Building social and emotional competencies for coping with academic stress among students in lower secondary school
Year: 2022
Citation: 41

Title: Teachers’ support for growth mindset and its links with students’ growth mindset, academic engagement, and achievements in lower secondary school
Year: 2024
Citation: 39

Title: Associations of social and emotional competencies, academic efficacy beliefs, and emotional distress among students in lower secondary school
Year: 2021
Citation: 28

Title: Livsmestring og livsglede i barnehagen
Year: 2018
Citation: 23

Title: Robust fidelity checklist
Year: 2020
Citation: 6

Title: Social competencies, classroom relationships, and academic engagement: A latent change score modeling approach among lower secondary school students
Year: 2024
Citation: 4

Title: Changes in academic efficacy beliefs in the first year of lower secondary school. Is it related to changes in social and emotional competencies?
Year: 2022
Citation: 4

Title: The Role of Social and Emotional Competencies in Academic Efficacy Beliefs, Emotional Distress, and Academic Stress: A Study Among Lower Secondary School Students
Year: 2022
Citation: 3

Title: The Impact of Teaching Coping Skills in Schools on Youth Mental Health and Academic Achievement: Evidence from a Field Experiment
Year: 2025
Citation: 2

Conclusion:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lene Vestad academic journey reflects a strong dedication to advancing knowledge in educational psychology and adolescent mental health. Her consistent achievements in research, teaching, and outreach establish her as a thought leader in her field. With continued international collaborations and interdisciplinary expansion, she has the potential to elevate her research impact even further. Based on her contributions and leadership, she stands as an outstanding nominee for the Best Researcher Award.