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)
• Victoria Damjanovic, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Teaching & Learning / Department of Educational Specialties (early childhood STEM education; early childhood special 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)

• 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)
• Jeff Hovermill, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics & Statistics (mathematics education; statistics; indigenous education)
• 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)
• Inès Montaño, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Applied Physics and Materials Science (theoretical condensed matter physics; physics outreach)
• Mark Salvatore, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Astronomy & Planetary Science (planetary geology; post-secondary STEM education)
• James Sample, Ph.D., Professor, School of Earth and Sustainability (geology; post-secondary geology 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)
• 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)

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.