Arthurs holds a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from University of California at Berkeley, a BS in Geology from the University of Hawai`i at Hilo, a PhD in Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame, and four certificates in pedagogy from Notre Dame’s Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning.  She received postdoctoral training in discipline-based education research (DBER) with Nobel Laureate Carl Wieman.  She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Arthurs’ research interests include: conceptual challenges to learning Earth processes; novice-to-expert development in the geosciences; and the design and evaluation of STEM faculty professional development programs aimed at enhancing the learning experiences and learning outcomes of students from diverse backgrounds in college-level STEM courses.