Research Dissemination: Developing and Assessing Respect for Human Dignity

and Naropa Applications

Dr. Michelle Butler Samuels, Dr. Lauren Scharff, and other colleagues


The Scientist-educator model (SEM) involves six steps. As part of the "reflect publicly, use feedback" step we have presented our work to a wide variety of audiences. Please feel welcome to contact us if you would like more detail about our presentations/research. (michelle.samuels@afacademy.af.edu, lauren.scharff@afacademy.af.edu)  [return to RFHD Research Overview page]
  1. conceptualize the learning process, set goals,
  2. earn about teaching,
  3. design measures to assess learning,
  4. design learning activities,
  5. deliver the course, measure outcomes, make decisions, and
  6. reflect publicly, use feedback.

RFHD Development Research Presentations:

Butler, M. A., Scharff, L., & DeAngelis, K. (2019, February). Pushing boundaries of comfort to develop and assess respect for human dignity for different types of others [Poster session]. Society for Personality and Social Psychology Conference, Portland, OR, United States.

Butler, M. A. & Scharff, L. (2018, April). Pushing boundaries of comfort to develop and assess respect for human dignity for individuals with brain or spinal cord injuries [Poster session]. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Butler, M. A. & Scharff, L. (2018, January). Pushing boundaries of comfort for individuals with brain or spinal cord injuries [Conference session]. Brain Injury Summit, Vail, CO, United States.

Butler, M. A., & Scharff, L. (2016, April). Presidential Address: Pushing boundaries of comfort to develop and assess respect for human dignity: Anxiety at first, now ready for more [Conference keynote session]. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Butler, M. A., Scharff, L., & Packard, G. A., Jr. (2015, January). Respect for human dignity:  Development and generalization through face-to-face field trip [Poster session]. Brain Injury Summit, Vail, CO, United States.

Scharff, L., & Butler, M. A. (2013, October). Development and evidence-based assessment of respect for human dignity [Conference talk session]. International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference, Raleigh, NC, United States.

Butler, M. A., Packard, G. A., & Scharff, L. (2012, August). Teaching and assessing respect for human dignity (RFHD) through case studies, lab demonstrations and field trips [Poster session]. American Psychological Association Convention, Orlando, FL, United States.

Butler, M. A., Packard, G. A., & Scharff, L. (2012, January). Teaching and assessing respect for human dignity (RFHD) through case studies, lab demonstrations and field trips [Poster session]. Brain Injury Summit, Beaver Creek, CO, United States.

Butler, M. A., & Packard, G. A. (2010, April). Teaching and assessing respect for human dignity in a cognitive psychology course:  Relevance of the field trip experience [Poster session]. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Packard, G. A., & Butler, M. A. (2010, January). Teaching and assessing respect for human dignity in a cognitive psychology course: Relevance of the field trip experience [Poster session]. National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology Conference, St. Pete Beach, FL, United States.

Naropa Application Presentations:

Encalada, I., Shoemake, C., Butler, M. A. & Hill, J. (2020, April). UNITe (USAFA-Naropa Inclusion Team)-Phase IV: Pushing cross-cultural boundaries of comfort to develop and assess respect for human dignity in a senior capstone course [Poster session]. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference, Denver, CO, United States. [Conference canceled due to Covid-19]

Burger, D., Laskey, M. & Butler, M. A. (2019, April). UNITe (USAFA-Naropa Inclusion Team)-Phase III: Pushing cross-cultural boundaries of comfort to develop and assess respect for human dignity in a senior capstone course [Poster session]. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Butler, M. A., Burger, D., & Laskey, M. (2019, October). UNITe (USAFA-Naropa Inclusion Team)-Phase III: Pushing cross-cultural boundaries of comfort to develop and assess respect for human dignity in a senior capstone course [Conference session].  Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education Conference, Amherst, MA, United States.

Butler, M. A., Franck, P., & Heiser, N. (2019, February). UNITe (USAFA-Naropa Inclusion Team)-Phase II: Pushing cross-cultural boundaries of comfort to develop and assess respect for human dignity [Poster session]. Society for Personality and Social Psychology Conference, Portland, OR, United States.

Franck, P., Heiser, N. & Butler, M. A. (2018, April). UNITe (U.S. Air Force Academy-Naropa Inclusion Team)-Phase II; Pushing cross-cultural boundaries of comfort to develop and assess respect for human dignity [Poster session]. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference, Denver, CO, United States.

Butler, M. A., Kelley, K., & Merrill, H. (2017, April). UNITe (U.S. Air Force Academy-Naropa Inclusion Team): Creating high impact learning experiences to build intercultural understanding and inclusion [Poster session]. Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.