Faculty Profiles

Dr. Johanna Lasonen

Professor Emerita
Career, Workforce, and Technical Education

Lasonen headshot

Email: lasonen@usf.edu
Phone: (813) 974-0314
Fax: (813) 974-3366
Office: USF Tampa campus, EDU 151-D 

Dr. Lasonen is a professor of Career, Workforce, and Technical Education at USF. Her research focuses on the comparisons of education systems in different countries, immigrant integration into the workplace with a special emphasis on equity and access issues, efficiency of learning environments and work-based learning. 

Prior to joining USF, Dr. Johanna Lasonen worked as a UNESCO professor of intercultural education in workforce in Finland. She worked for more than 10 years as a K-12 teacher and technical teacher educator and for more than 30 years in higher education. She holds two doctoral degrees, one in Vocational and Technical Education from Virginia Tech and the other in Educational Sciences from the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. She has been invited as a visiting scholar at many international universities.

Research

Dr. Lasonen’s research has focused on the comparisons of education systems in different countries, immigrant integration into the workplace with a special emphasis on equity and access issues, efficiency of learning environments and work-based learning. She has an extensive record of scholarly publications including 12 books and more than 120 refereed articles. She has also been the recipient of numerous grants from the European Union, the Academy of Finland, UNESCO, the World Bank and many national agencies. Additionally, Dr. Lasonen has been the recipient of numerous professional awards. 

Dr. Lasonen has also evaluated many trans-national projects and has served as an advisor and expert for UNESCO, European Union, Education and Culture Ministries in TVET around the world and national agencies. She has served as a trustee of numerous professional organizations, among others as President of International Vocational Education and Training Association (IVETA) and Chair of the AERA International Studies SIG.  She is a reviewer and an editorial board member many international peer-reviewed journals.  

Teaching

Dr. Lasonen has supervised many international and national doctoral students as well as evaluated university faculty members’ credentials for promotions around the world. She has taught the following courses at USF:

  • Philosophies of Inquiry
  • Instructional Development for Vocational, Technical and Adult Education
  • Program Planning and Implementation for Vocational and Adult Education
  • Equity and Access in New Economy
  • School and Community Relations
  • Curriculum Enhancement in Career and Technical Education
  • Emerging Work Competencies
  • Preparation for Teaching
  • Equity in Schools and Workplaces