• Professor at University of Iceland, in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Education 1994-2009, and in the School of Education, Faculty of Education, 2009-
• Associate Professor at University of Iceland, in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Education, 1989-1993
• Assistant Professor at University of Iceland, in the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Education, 1989
• Lecturer at University of Iceland, in the Faculty of Social Sciences, 1988
• Fulbright visiting scholar 1999-2000, visiting scholar Harvard University, Cambridge, USA, Springs 1992, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012
• Guest Professor, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, January 2000
• Lecturer at the University College of Education in developmental psychology and pedagogy, 1979-1983
• Curriculum developer at the Ministry of Culture and Education, Department of Research and School Development, 1973-1983
• Research assistant to Professor Wolfgang Edelstein in a study on social structure and child development. Max Planck Institut in Berlin and Univeristy of Iceland, 1980-1981
• Elementary school teacher, 1970-1977
• Organized and instructed at several in-service summer institutes for practicing teachers and principals. The Ministry of Culture and Education; The Institute of Continuous Education at the Teacher Training College University, and the Reykjavik Institute of Education, 1972 -

Other assignments for the University of Iceland

• Chair of the Department of Psychology in Educational Science, Faculty of Education, School of Education, 2008-
• Chair of the Department of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences 1991-1998, 2000-2002
• Chair of the Science Committee, 1997-1999; board member, 1994-1997
• Chair of the University Fund Eimskip Committee, 2007-2009, 2011-2013, board member, 2005-2007
• Member of the State Universities’ Science Committee, 2009-; Chair from 2013-
• Member of the chairing Committee for the Social Science Research Institute, 1996-2009
• On the evaluation committee: European Commission: Targeted Socio-Economic Research Education and Training Research, 1995
• On several other committees either as a chair or a member for the Faculty of Social Sciences, 1989-2009
• On several other committees for the University of Iceland, 1990-

Other assignments

• Member of the Board, Icelandic Council of Science, 2003-2006
• Member of the Board, Alcohol and Drug Prevention Council of the Public Health Institute of Iceland, 1998-2002, 2004-
• Member of the chairing Committee of Students' Research Fund within the Icelandic Science Foundation, 1997-1999
• National Coordinator: European network: Children’s Identity and Citizenship in Europe – CiCe, 1998-2010
• Member of the Research Advisory Board, Facing History and Ourselves branches, Harvard University and Brookline, MA, 2005-2006
• On several committees for the Ministiry of Culture and Education, 1992-
• Several consultant tasks and evaluation of school development programs for the Ministiry of Culture and Education, 1974-
• Member of Editorial Board, Journal of Adolescent Research, 2007-
• Member of the Editorial Board, Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 2012-
• On the editorial board, International Journal of Progressive Education. Special Issue. Topic: Education for Active Citizenship. Guest Editor Prof Alistair Ross, London Metropolitan University. October 2012,  Vol 8 – No 3.

Curriculum Design

• Curriculum for a Master’s Degree in Citizenship Education on behalf of the European network, Children’s Identity and Citizenship in Europe (CiCe), supported by the EU – Socrates program, 2006-2009
• Curriculum in Social Studies at the Ministry of Culture and Education, Department of Research and Development, 1973-1983
• Curriculum on Social Development on Fostering students' interpersonal competence and skills. The curriculum is related to an intervention study and consists of materials for students, teachers, and parents, 1988-1992, revision 2008-2009.