CO LLEG E O F E D U CAT I O N
Meet the STEMinists of COE This impressive group of educators draws
Q | How does STEM influence your responsi-
water aquarium tanks. Furry critters are also
upon their diverse education, work experi-
bilities in the College of Education?
a big part of my life. I have three Golden
ences and interests to promote the idea
Erin: My elementary science methods students
Retrievers who I love and train. Frog is a therapy
that science, technology, engineering and
apply STEM into a unit that they design and
dog, Jake will soon be a companion dog,
math are for everyone—regardless of gender.
co-teach in a local partner school in Joliet 86.
and Fin(negan) is just three months old, but we
I have also chaired various STEM initiatives over
have high expectations for him as well!
Who are they?
the years including a STEM Family Night at
Srimani Chakravarthi, Associate Professor of Education
St. Ray’s and co-teaching science with elemen-
Q | What advice would you like to share with
Erin Evans, Associate Professor of Education
tary faculty/alum in the local area.
girls on the importance of STEM?
Maureen Hunt, College of Education Licensure Officer
Srimani: I include STEM in my methods courses
Erin: Females comprise half of the population,
Cathy Nelson, Professor of Education
and encourage teacher candidates to consider
so I would love for us to be better-represented
Cindy Sloan, College of Education Associate Dean
how they can make STEM content accessible to
in STEM fields, including teaching, since
all learners, including those with special and
STEM engagement can and should start at an
other diverse needs. I also convey my love for
early age!
Q | When did you discover your passion
technology by incorporating it within my
Cathy: Find your passion and fully explore it.
for STEM?
teaching, exploring the use of tech tools such as
Take advantage of any and all opportunities,
Cathy: Math has always been my favorite
website creation, interactive quizzes, and
such as math team, space camp, and computer
subject. Whenever I played “school” as a child,
self-paced modules.
classes. These types of experiences will allow
I was always the math teacher. I found I really
you to see the application of the subjects in the
enjoyed chemistry in high school, in my honor’s
Q | Do you have any interesting STEM-
real world.
chemistry lab, when we got to use Bunsen
related hobbies or interests?
Srimani: Girls in STEM rock! Science and math
burners and chemicals that turned cool colors.
Cathy: I like to play games and am a bit (okay,
are in everything and we use it every day,
Maureen: As a child I loved being outdoors
very) competitive! I calculate the probability
just like the technology tools that we cannot
and exploring. We spent summers in the Ozark
of cards being drawn to guide my strategy, and
live without. You cannot go wrong in choosing
Mountains and I loved watching plants grow
when I play Jenga, I use engineering principles
a STEM career.
and observing animal behavior around our
to help determine which block to remove
Maureen: To me STEM is about why. Rather
cabin. In 7th grade we built lead acid batteries
and replace to render the structure unstable for
than accept something just because we
and conducted various experiments. In 8th
my opponents.
were told about it, STEM stresses questioning.
grade we had chemistry, with concentrated acid
Srimani: Being a STEMist took me to the White
It is about being an active decision maker
and other cool experiments. We learned by
House Science Fair in 2016, with a team of
in all aspects of life. Many careers rely on the
doing and then studying the why.
9th graders I mentored for a National Science
ability to think, question and contribute,
Cindy: I’ve been interested in science since
competition. It brings me great joy to see
all of which are key pieces to the STEM mind.
second grade when I earned a 2nd place ribbon
students’ excitement build in the scientific
Cindy: Don’t be intimidated; STEM subjects are
for my science fair experiment—Which is
inquiry process, using technology tools and data
not just for boys and they are FUN! Dive in
lighter, cold or hot water? My love for animals
analysis as they progress through the six months
and get your hands dirty with whatever interests
began at about the same time. We lived in
of the experiment. Working with school-age
you. STEM subjects are a huge part of life
an apartment building in Chicago and my
children in this capacity certainly helps to enrich
and are all around us. Look for opportunities to
mother told me that we were not allowed to
my teaching practices here at USF.
learn in your kitchen, on your computer, in your
have pets but offered a compromise and
Cindy: My home is filled with evidence of
Lego box, or in your yard.
gave me two small Red-eared Sliders (turtles).
my love for science. I garden, culture kombucha and keifer, and maintain both fresh and salt
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Engaging Mind & Spirit Magazine
