Contact the Center for STEM Teaching and Learning
If you have questions or would like to support our efforts please contact us.
Current affiliated faculty members
The affiliated faculty members of the CSTL are a group of highly qualified and dedicated educators and scholars who are committed to promoting excellence in STEM education. They come from a variety of academic disciplines and bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise to the Center. They are actively involved in a range of research projects and educational initiatives that aim to enhance the teaching and learning of STEM. Through their work, they are helping to shape the future of STEM education and inspire the next generation.
College of Education (COE)
- Sara Abercrombie, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Educational Psychology (educational psychology; educational assessment)
- Angelina Castagno, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Educational Leadership; Director, Institute for Native-Serving Educators (indigenous education)
- Heather Lindfors-Navarro, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Teaching & Learning (elementary mathematics education)
- Beau Vezino, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Teaching & Learning (elementary engineering education)
- Cynthia Villarreal, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership (higher education; HSIs; post-secondary STEM education)
College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences (CEFNS)
- Suzanne Affinati, Ph.D., Research Professor, School of Earth and Sustainability (earth science education, petrology, tectonics)
- Dana Ernst, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics & Statistics (mathematics, inquiry-based learning, SoTL)
- Angie Hodge-Zickerman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics & Statistics (mathematics education; inquiry-based learning in mathematics)
- Jani Ingram, Ph.D., Regents’ Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (environmental chemistry; post-secondary indigenous STEM education)
- Nancy Johnson, Ph.D., Regents’ Professor, School of Earth and Sustainability (soil ecology, post-secondary biology and environmental education)
- Naomi Lee, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (indigenous education, secondary chemistry education; post-secondary chemistry education)
- Inès Montaño, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Applied Physics and Materials Science (theoretical condensed matter physics; physics outreach)
- Matthew Salanga, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences (cellular and molecular biology; post-secondary biology education)
- Mark Salvatore, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Astronomy & Planetary Science (planetary geology; post-secondary STEM education)
College of Engineering (CSE)
- Ashish Amresh, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS) (computational sciences; computing education)
- Jared Duval, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS) (computational sciences; educational game development)
- Ben Dymond, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering (structural engineering; engineering education)
- Josh Hewes, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering (civil engineering; engineering education)
- Cole Joslyn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering (engineering education)
- Zachary Lerner, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering (mechanical engineering; engineering education)
- Kayode Oshinubi, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS) (epidemiology; computational modeling)
- Andrew Richardson, Ph.D., Regents’ Professor, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS) (ecology; environmental education)
- John Tingerthal, Ed.D., Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Environmental Engineering (construction management; engineering education)
- Morgan Vigil-Hayes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS) (computer sciences; indigenous education)
- Kyle Winfree, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS) (biomechanics; engineering education)
- Lan Zhang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems (SICCS) (AI; cybersecurity; engineering education)
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS)
- Chrissina Burke, Ph.D., Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Anthropology (zooarchaeology, biological anthropology, decolonizing science)
- Ronda Jenson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences / Institute for Human Development (developmental psychology; special education; STEM education)
- Mark Manone, Professor of Practice, Department of Geography, Planning & Recreation (geography; geoscience education)
- Jade Metzger
College of Arts and Letters (CAL)
- Okim Kang, Ph.D., Professor, Department of English (linguistics; AI in education; automated assessment)
Become an affiliated faculty member
As a leader in STEM education, the CSTL provides a platform for researchers and educators to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and advance the field of STEM education. As an affiliated faculty member, you will have the opportunity to participate in our events and research initiatives and engage with a dynamic community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about improving STEM education. CSTL affiliated faculty:
- are invited to share their expertise on research and grant development teams
- serve as PIs or Co-PIs on STEM education-related grants as interested
- access Center grant development services
- apply for mini-grants supported by the Center (coming soon!)
- receive regular updates on our work as well as possible collaborations and grant opportunities
- are invited to scholarly seminars, workshops, and social events
Most importantly, affiliated faculty will interact with a growing community of scholars at NAU and beyond with expertise in diverse disciplines who share a common interest in STEM education. These interactions will offer faculty opportunities to develop new collaborations and innovative research approaches with colleagues from across colleges, departments, and disciplines.
To apply, please send an email to cstl@nau.edu with a copy of your current cv and a short description of your areas of academic expertise and interest in affiliating with the Center.
Questions? Please contact the CSTL Co-Director, Ron Gray (ron.gray@nau.edu, 928-523-3618).
FAQ
What are my obligations as an affiliated faculty member? Accordion Closed
Joining the Center as an affiliated faculty member is easy and comes with no additional responsibilities. Your profile will be included on the CSTL website and you will be added to the CSTL affiliated faculty mailing list where you will receive research updates, event invites, and invitation to participate in new grant initiatives.
What is the difference between core and affiliated faculty members? Accordion Closed
Core faculty members provide leadership within the Center based on their fields of expertise. They are appointed through their dean and the Office for the Vice President of Research. IDC distributions for core faculty members’ grants are adjusted to include the Center. Affiliated faculty members are appointed by the Center and their ICDs distributions are not affected. Core faculty members are charged with providing leadership in their respective areas of expertise.
How do I become a core faculty member in the Center? Accordion Closed
If you are interested in becoming a core faculty member in the Center, please contact the Co-Director of the faculty team for information. Core faculty members play a leadership role in Center, attend monthly faculty team meetings, and are expected to procure grant funding for Center-related research projects. As a core faculty member, your IDC distributions will be adjusted to include the Center.