Dr. Henderien Steenbeek

Henderien Steenbeek is Professor of Diversity in Learning & Behaviour, part of the professorship of Youth, Education and Society. She focuses on promoting children’s learning and well-being within the educational environment.

The research focus of Henderien Steenbeek within the professorship Youth, Education and Society lies in promoting learning and well-being of children in education, with attention to the development of children who are vulnerable to a trajectory of reduced learning and well-being, for whatever reason. She also focuses on strengthening the pedagogical and didactic skills of educational professionals who work with children.
She is also a theme leader within Equal Opportunities & Participation, one of the strategic themes of the Centre of Expertise Healthy Aging. Her research is primarily affiliated to the Hanze Education Academy.

In 2006, Steenbeek obtained her PhD for her research into dyadic interaction of children during play, exploring the differences between with different sociometric statuses. She later served as coordinator of the TalentenKracht research programme Groningen (RUG, developmental psychology; 2007-2016).

She is currently a member of the National Expertise Centre for Primary to Secondary School Transition, the Expertise Centre for Interaction in the Diverse Classroom and the Expertise Centre for Talent Development. Additionally, she has been an associate professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Groningen since 2013 and she is a developmental psychologist.