Meet Sharon Lauricella, Ph.D.

Sharon Lauricella is the inaugural Teaching Scholar in Residence at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario. She holds a position as Full Professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities and is a scholar of Communication and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Sharon holds a doctoral degree from the University of Cambridge (UK), a BA from Wheaton College (Massachusetts), and a Certificate in Higher Education Teaching from the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard University. Her research focuses on teaching with technology, mental health of undergraduate students, and the value of fun and play in higher education.

Sharon has been recognized for teaching excellence, having been awarded the Ontario Tech Teaching Award twice (2007 and 2012), the Faculty Teaching Award (2010 and 2019), and the Tim McTiernan Student Mentorship Award (2020). She teaches courses including Communication Ethics, Public Speaking, Nonviolent Communication, Contemporary Issues in Communication, and Listening.

Sharon is a nominee for the 3M National Teaching Fellowship.

Have questions? Contact Sharon.

  • Students make friends in my classes because we laugh. A lot. - Dr. Sharon Lauricella

  • I don't believe in disposable assignments. Everything that my students do can be put online, used again, recycled, given away, or published. - Dr. Sharon Lauricella

  • I teach communication and digital media studies -- students are expected to bring their phones to class. And use them! - Dr. Sharon Lauricella

Upcoming Events

  • Social Learning Amplified Podcast

    Appearance on the Social Learning Amplified Podcast with Eric Mazur of Harvard University.

  • My First Book Release

    BOOK RELEASE! Lauricella, S. & Edmunds, T. K. (2023). Ludic Pedagogy: A Seriously Fun Way to Teach and Learn. Rowman & Littlefield. COMING JUNE 2023!

  • The Ludicast Podcast

    The Ludicast is produced by Rich Little of the Ludic Pedagogy Lab at Ontario Tech University. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.