Dr. Carlson received a Fulbright award in 1988-89 to support her research into working conditions for women in 17th and 18th century Europe. She began her career at the University of Dayton in 1992 as a faculty member in the department of history. She has participated in the Women's Studies Program and the International Studies Program, and in 1995 taught in the International Summer Studies Abroad Program in Paris. She teaches courses at all levels of history and is the newsletter editor for the Society for Netherlandic History.