Ordene V. Edwards

Dr. Edwards is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Science at Kennesaw State University. She studies motivation, identity, and learning in higher education, with research spanning motivational interventions, reader identity, intersectionality, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Her work examines how students' identities—including race, gender, social class, generation status, and reader identity—shape educational experiences and outcomes, while also investigating the antecedents and consequences of motivation across diverse contexts such as reading and online learning environments, and conducting SoTL research to bridge empirical findings with classroom practice.

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Her research draws on theoretical frameworks including situated expectancy-value theory, self-determination theory, and social cognitive theory to understand and enhance student success. Dr. Edwards has published in journals including the Journal of Experimental Education, The Internet and Higher Education, and Contemporary Educational Psychology, and has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the American Psychological Association, and the Russell Sage Foundation. Her work has been recognized through awards including teaching honors from students and professional nominations.