Dr. Budwig received a B.A. from Vassar College in 1979 and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1986. She has been at Clark since that time, currently as Professor of Psychology. Dr. Budwig served in Clark’s Academic Administration in 2002- 2016 as Associate Provost as well as Dean of Graduate Studies and Dean of Research. She also was appointed as a Senior Fellow at the American Association of Colleges and Universities from 2016-2020.
Dr. Budwig’s research examines the development of knowledge and practice. Trained in the areas of human development and the learning sciences, she examines issues of the development of knowledge and practice in both formal and informal learning contexts. Dr. Budwig is particularly interested in how participation in communities of practice contributes to the gradual construction of meaning systems. Currently, Budwig focuses on the transition from high school learning identities to what college means to college students through using qualitative methodology. Her prior research on language development and language socialization examined ways participation in language practices supports the construction of culturally relevant senses of personhood in young children as they learn language in the home with an eye to transitioning to school. Budwig also works at the interface of organizational change, examining ways that higher education educators can make better use of the learning and developmental science research to design environments that foster better student learning and knowledge building. Further information about ongoing projects can be found at her personal Web page.