Mary A. Steinhardt, Ed.D., L.P.C.
Dr. Mary Steinhardt is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at The University of Texas at Austin, and Fellow in the Lee Hage Jamail Regents Chair in Education. She currently teaches a freshman leadership seminar, evaluation and research design, mind/body health, and theories of health behavior. She was the recipient of the First Annual Dean's Distinguished Teaching Award in the College of Education in 2002, the Texas Excellence Teaching Award given by the Texas Exes Student Association in 2003, and selected to the Academy of Distinguished Teachers at The University of Texas in 2004. Dr. Steinhardt received the Robert Murff Excellence Award in 2007 for her outstanding support of career services.
Dr. Steinhardt's academic interests focus on the development and implementation of programs that enhance individual and organizational resilience. Her research explores the determinants and methods for building resilience and strength when challenged with change and stressful situations. She has worked with such companies as 3M, Motorola, Dell, Applied Materials, and Home Depot. She also works closely with the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), within the Department of Health and Human Services Commission in Austin, Texas. To date, Dr. Steinhardt has received over a million dollars in funding to support her work and has published over 40 manuscripts. Current findings demonstrate that resilient responses to stress serve a protective function in the stress-illness relationship such that physiological stress responses are attenuated and health outcomes enhanced.
Dr. Steinhardt lives in Cedar Park, Texas with her husband John (an 8th-grade math teacher) and two daughters Megan (19, who attends Washington and Lee University and is a member of the volleyball team) and Linda (12, who wants to be like her big sister). She is a huge fan of Jody Conradt (and now Gail Goestenkors) and the Lady Longhorns. Her favorite place? Estees Park. Favorite movie? Erin Brockovich. Favorite book? The Secret Life of Bees. Favorite thing to do? Girls' night out with Megan and Linda.
The Transforming Lives Through Resilience Education Web site would not have been possible without the help of so many wonderful people at the University of Texas. I am grateful to Renulfo Ramirez and Mark McFarland for supporting this project and providing the resources to see the project to completion. I was especially honored to work with Tim Kerr, who did the audio, and Arnie Flores, the graphic designer. I am also grateful for the unwavering support of Charlie Lenk, Norma DeVries and Kimberly Christian. Finally, thanks to Mark Pittillo and Deanna Bearden of ITS-Applications for setting up the TXShop store.
I also want to thank my corporate colleagues for allowing me to teach and learn in their environment. Special thanks to Sandi Aitken of Motorola (now Freescale) for her faith in my ability to develop and teach the material. The original project, Transforming Stress Into Resilience, was her idea. Thanks also to Nancy Lesch of Motorola for her creativity, Rebecca Ryan-Swift and Gail Sulak of 3M for their leadership and support, and Tre McCalister of Applied Materials, and now Dell, for her contributions to the curriculum and to our research projects. Finally, thanks to Olin Clemons of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for supporting my research and teaching, and for his integrity and commitment to serving the people who serve the people. I value our work together, and I treasure our friendships.
A special thanks to former UT President Larry Faulkner for funding the development of this program. I love working at an academic institution whose core purpose is "to transform lives for the benefit of society." This project is my humble attempt to contribute to that worthy purpose by helping citizens in the great state of Texas and around the world transform their lives through resilience education.
Mary A. Steinhardt, EdD, LPC
Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
Bellmont Hall 506 (Mail Code:D3700)
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712
email: MSteinhardt@mail.utexas.edu
http://www.edb.utexas.edu/steinhardt/
Phone: 512-232-3535
Fax: 512-471-8914