About Me

My current research efforts center around understanding how informal and formal learning environments intersect to support lifelong learning success for students and faculty. I currently am investigating how an informal community of practice for first-year engineering faculty supports community building and impacts first-year engineering pedagogical approaches. I earned my PhD and MS UC Santa Barbara in the Gevirtz School of Education studying STEM education under the advisement of Dr. Danielle Harlow and my BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona. Outside of my research, I enjoy swing dancing, scuba diving and walking my dog around the local nature reserve.

DOWNLOAD FULL CV

Teaching Experience

Research Projects

University

Independent Research Study (ED199)
- Undergraduate Research Supervisor
- Department of Education
- 2018-Present
Greenworks (ED136)
- Teaching Assistant
- Department of Education
- Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024
Introduction to Leadership Development (ED173)
- Teaching Assistant
- Department of Education
- Fall 2019, Fall 2023, Winter 2024
Intro to the Research University (ED118/20)
- Teaching Assistant
- Department of Education
- Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Teaching and Teachers (ED150)
- Teaching Assistant
- Department of Education
- Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Spring 2023
Elementary Science Teaching Methods (ED320S)
- Teaching Assistant
- Department of Education
- Winter 2020, Spring 2020
Introduction to Oceanography (EARTH4)
- Teaching Assistant
- Department of Earth Sciencces
- Fall 2018

Elementary & Secondary (K-12):

Chelsea Miro Educators, Santa Barbara, CA
- Private tutor
- 2018-2024
School for Scientific Thought, Santa Barbara, CA
- Lead instructor
- Fall 2019
The Sea Center, Santa Barbara, CA
- Exhibit Facilitator
- 2018-2019
McEnroe Reading and Language Arts Clinic,
Santa Barbara, CA
- Reading tutor
- 2018-2019
Summer Science Academy, Tucson, AZ
- Principal Investigator
- 2016-2017
Biosphere 2, Tucson, AZ
- Education Outreach Specialist
- 2016-2018
Tucson Children's Museum, Tucson, AZ
- Programming Coordinator
- 2014
Chandler Museum, Chandler, AZ
- Program Development Intern
- 2009-2013

Apprentice Researchers

Partnership with the Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships (CSEP) and Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE) investigating high school student summer intern science identity and self-efficacy in STEM and graduate student views of science mentorship.

Engineering Explorations

Partnership with MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation to connect field trips to classroom learning. NSF #EEC-1824586

The Curie-osity Project

Partnership with Girls Inc. to support girls and non-binary youth to develop STEM interests and identities

Informal Education Delphi Study

Study to identify key practices for informal educator training to focus on

PRACTICE

Partnership with MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation to develop a year-long informal educator training program. NSF #1906320

EPiQC

Multi-institutional effort to develop quantum computers and materials to disseminate information to the general public. NSF #17030088

EMIFY

Entrepreneurial Mindset in the First-Year (EMIFY) investigates how leaders of first-year engineering programs foster a sense of community, develop a community of practice, and leverage this community to support student success.