Dr. Ardelt is the developer of the widely used Three-Dimensional Wisdom Scale (3D-WS; Ardelt, 2003). In 1999, she was elected as a Brookdale National Fellow to study the similarities and differences between aging and dying well. As a Positive Psychology Templeton Senior Fellow in 2005, she examined the association between spirituality and aging well. In 2010, Dr. Ardelt was awarded Fellowship status of the Gerontological Society of America.

Dr. Ardelt has published numerous journal articles and book chapters in the area of successful human development across the life course with particular emphasis on the relations between wisdom, spirituality, and well-being. She also studies the characteristics of wise organizations and wise leadership and how they affect employees’ work-related and personal well-being.