Smaranda Lawrie

Dr. Smaranda Ioana Lawrie earned her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Economics from Yale University, a Master’s in International Development from the University of Pennsylvania, and both a Master’s and Ph.D. in Psychological and Brain Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She also holds a Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Quantitative Research Methods from UCSB’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education. Born in Romania, she spent part of her childhood hiding with a family in Hungary before living in refugee camps in Austria and eventually immigrating to the United States. Her journey continues to fuel her passion for understanding how people build resilience across cultures and circumstances.

Her research explores well-being, resilience, and human flourishing across national and socioeconomic contexts, with a special focus on helping college students develop resilience and mental toughness. Beyond the classroom, she is a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher as well as a certified positive psychology practitioner. She has had the joy of working with people ages 5 to 101—teaching skills for bouncing back from challenges, cultivating strengths, and living a flourishing life.

Dr. Lawrie first taught at Westmont as an adjunct during graduate school, and as of 2025 she is thrilled to join the full-time faculty. She also serves as the inaugural Director of Westmont’s Center for Resilience and Human Flourishing. She is delighted to return to beautiful Santa Barbara with her husband Nate, their two kiddos, her parents, a playful dog, and two quirky lizards in tow.