Martha “Marty” Carr, a professor in the College of Education’s educational psychology department, died July 30. She was 59.
During her nearly three decades at the University of Georgia, Carr focused on examining the cognitive, motivational and social factors that influence mathematics achievement in elementary schoolchildren. Her accomplishments extended beyond the fields of educational psychology and mathematics education and led to notable increases in both basic information about mathematics learning, as well as applied strategies for reducing the gender gap in learning.
Carr’s longitudinal research, which was highly valued for its rigor and ability to address questions of development over time, advanced both theory and practice by explaining how multiple factors, including metacognition, self-confidence, and beliefs about effort and ability, interact to influence the development of advanced mathematics strategies and achievement.
Carr served on the editorial boards of major journals in educational psychology, including Journal of Educational Psychology, Educational Psychology Review and School Psychology Quarterly.
During her career, she received multiple internal and external awards in support of her outstanding research accomplishments, including the 2011 W.A. Owens Creative Research Award from the University of Georgia; the 2011 Karen Dee Michalowicz Service Award from the Joint Committee on Women in the Mathematical Sciences; the 2009 Aderhold Distinguished Professor Award and the 2005 Russell H. Yeany Jr. Research Award from the College of Education at UGA; and the 1993 Award of Excellence from the American Mensa Education and Research Foundation.
Details of Carr’s memorial service are forthcoming.