Molly Dunn

Education

• Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2017,
• Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership
• M.Ed., University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 2000
• , Literacy and Equity-Oriented Learning
• B.A., University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 1998,
• History, Latin American Studies

Research

Publications

1. Dunn, M.S., Savick, S.L., Durham, R. (2025) College access literacy with a FOCUS on key transition knowledge for historically underrepresented students and their educators.Journal of College Access. 10(2), 5. https://doi.org/10.25774/4f60-b960
2. Savick, S.L.,Dunn, M.S.,& Durham, R. (2025.)Fostering college access literacy for students and educators in school-university partnerships: A culturally responsive approach.School-University Partnerships. 18(1), 81-96. https://doi.org/10.1108/sup-11-2024-0030
3. Rivera, X.P., andDunn, M.S.(2024.) The restrictive consequences of promoting tolerance.National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE) Journal of Research and Practice, 14(3-4),55-78. https://doi.org/10.1080/26390043.2024.2413968
4. Larson, K.E.,Dunn, M.S.,Tek, B.A., Lawler-Justice, A. (2024). Empowering educators and students to flourish: Evaluating the student alliance for flourishing program in middle and high school.Education Sciences, 14(4), 340. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14040340
5. Dunn, M.S.& Larson, K.E. (2023). Mindful educators: Compassion, community, and adaptability are key.International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(2), 358-376. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.2.20
6. Larson, K., Chaturvedi, A.,Dunn, M.S.,Chavers, N. (2023). Using a contemplative practice intervention in teacher education courses to neutralize implicit racial bias: A feasibility study.Teaching Education, 35(2), 162-183. https://doi.org/10.1080/10476210.2023.2252353
7. Dunn, M.S.(2022). Chalk dust in the wind: An examination of the demoralized teacher.Journal of Thought,56(3/4), 20-32.
8. Dunn, M.S.(2021). Monday morning after: Sustaining a mindfulness practice after the initial retreat.Journal of Contemplative Inquiry, 8(1), 176-199.
9. Dunn, M.S. (2020). A Zen moment: Using mindfulness to engage and heal classrooms. In Dannielle Davis (Ed.),United we stand: The role of spirituality in engaging and healing communities. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing. 287-303.
10. Dunn, M.S.(2019). Case study research: Of artists, athletes, and engineers.International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 10(2), 177-185. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijtcs.2019.101509
11. Dunn, M.S.(2018). Teaching compassionately: Teacher professional training and impact. In Jing Lin & Tom Culham (Eds.),Contemplative Pedagogies for Transforming Teaching, Learning, and Being. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, 121-132.

Presentations

• Dunn, M.S
• ., & Adhikari, P. (2026, Februrary). Education technology in the refugee context: Lessons from Dzaleka, Malawi.
• Symposium on Refugee and Migrant Education
• , Blacksburg, VA.
• Dunn, M.S.,
• & McHugh, D. (2026, March). Contemplative inquiry and holistic education in the comparative and international education arena.
• Comparative and International Education Society Annual Meeting,
• San Francisco, CA.
• Leiter, K. &
• Dunn, M.S.
• (2026, April) Let them play: A social-emotional play intervention to negate adverse behaviors of kindergarten students.
• American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
• , Los Angeles, CA.
• Dunn, M.S.
• (2024, March). Rest as radical protest: Testing the framework of compassion, community, and accountability in a k-12 educators’ retreat.
• Comparative and International Education Society Annual Meeting,
• Miami, FL.
• Lee, C.M. &
• Dunn, M.S.
• (2024, April). The impact of Asian cultural values on the leadership styles of Asian American k-12 principals.
• American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
• , Philadelphia, PA.
• Dunn, M.S.
• (2020, April). Accountability for acceptance: Examining relational trust between school districts and the communities they serve.
• American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
• , San Francisco, CA.
• Alston, J.,
• Dunn, M.S
• ., Santamaria-Graff, C. (2020, April). Forms of spiritual connection in present-day public education.
• American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
• , San Francisco, CA.
• Dunn, M.S.
• (2018, April). Compassion and community: Results from a mindfulness-based intervention for teachers.
• American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting
• , New York, NY.
• Edwards, S.,
• Dunn, M.S.,
• & Busacca, C. (2018, March). Contemplative actions for social justice: Reflective practices for students, communities, and educators.
• Comparative and International Education Society Annual Meeting,
• Mexico City, Mexico.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

• Comparative and International Education Society (CIES)
• American Educational Research Association (AERA)

Awards

• Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Institute of International Education (2025)
• Fulbright Specialist, U.S. Department of State (2023)
• Education Reform Leader, University of Notre Dame, South Bend (2018)
• Contemplative Social Justice Scholar, Association for the Contemplative Mind in Higher Education (2017)
• Doctoral Fellowship, University of Maryland, College Park (2011-2015)
• International Exchange Leader to China, National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (2010)
• Middlebury Language Academy Fellow, Chicago Foundation for Education (2007)