New Officers for 2014-15

Please join us in congratulating the new officers that were elected in this year's election. Their terms in the NAGT leadership will begin with the Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the GSA meeting in October in Vancouver.

New NAGT National Officers

2nd Vice President Anne Egger

Anne Egger is an Assistant Professor at Central Washington University with a joint appointment in Geological Sciences and Science Education. This joint appointment means that her teaching includes geology majors, elementary and middle-level teaching majors, Earth science teaching majors, and general education students. She has facilitated undergraduate curricular design at a variety of institutions, from reviving Stanford's undergraduate geophysics program to reflect the diverse research interests of the faculty, to developing the first Earth science undergraduate degree in Singapore at Nanyang Technological University, to reforming the Middle-Level Science Teaching major at CWU to better meet the Next Generation Science Standards. She is particularly interested in emphasizing the connections between research and education at all levels: incorporating scientific research results into science classes, reforming teaching based on scientific results, and involving students in authentic scientific experiences.

Education: BA Geology, Yale University; MS and PhD Geology, Stanford University. Professional Experience: faculty at San Juan College, Farmington, NM; Undergraduate Program Coordinator in the School of Earth Sciences, Stanford University; currently faculty at Central Washington University; Senior Editor of Visionlearning. Teaching Experience: introductory geology, field camp (intro and advanced), structural geology, science methods (elementary and secondary education), introduction to research seminar, geoscience writing. Service has included: General Education Committee, CWU; geoscience councilor, Council of Undergraduate Research; Electorate Nominating Committee, Education Section, AAAS; workshop convener for On the Cutting Edge and NAGT workshops; member of AGU, GSA, AAAS, AWG, and NAGT.

Councilor-at-Large Karen Viskupic

Karen Viskupic is the Education Programs Manager in the Department of Geosciences at Boise State University, where she focuses on geoscience education and student success. Karen works with geoscience faculty on curriculum development and assessment, advises all undergraduate geoscience students, and works on several NSF-funded campus-wide initiatives focused on improving the undergraduate and graduate STEM education experiences.

Education: BA Geology, Washington University in St. Louis; PhD Geology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professional Experience and Service: research faculty at Boise State University (2003-present); Department of Geosciences Education Programs Manager at Boise State University (2006-present); PI, NSF GK-12 project partnering geoscience and biology students with informal learning centers (2008-present); member of the InTeGrate Assessment Team; member of the leadership teams for Cutting Edge Classroom Observation and Embedded Assessment research projects; Boise State GeoClub faculty advisor.

Councilor-at-Large Suzanne Smaglik

Suzanne (Suki) Smaglik is a Professor of Earth and Physical Sciences at Central Wyoming College, in Riverton and Lander, WY. In addition to teaching geology, chemistry, Earth system science, physical science, and science education, Suki also over sees a robust interdisciplinary early undergraduate research program in geochemistry. Research topics include extremophile genomics at Thermopolis, Hydrology of the Little Popo Agie River, and Cenozoic landscape development of Table Mountain near Lander, Wyoming. These research projects are financially support by small grants from several programs: ESPCoR (NSF), INBRE (NIH), Space Grant, CCURI (NSF). She has participated in many Cutting Edge workshops and served on the NAGT Geo2YC Division Organizational Committee. In addition, Suki donates time and energy to community events and national organizations.

Education: BA Chemistry & Geology, Beloit College; MSc Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines; ABD Geology & Geophysics, University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Appointments and Professional Experience: Instructor: Geologic Field Assistant & Physical Science Technician, USGS; Geology & Physical Science, CSU-Bakersfield; Instructor: Geology & Chemistry, Metro State College of Denver; Instructor: Chemistry, Northern Michigan University; Academic Advisor, Northern Michigan University; Instructor through Professor, CWC. Service: Regional Science Fair Coordinator; CWC Curriculum Committee, CWC Faculty Vice President, numerous academic committees at CWC; 2YC representation to GSA Geoscience Education Committee; NAGT North Central Region President; Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Board; Girl Scout leader and leader trainer. Awards: CWC Outstanding Faculty Member, 2012-2013; Wyoming Community College Leadership Award; Faculty Member of the Year Nominee, 2012-2103; CWC Faculty President 2014-2015.

New Teacher Education Division Officers

Past President Kyle Gray

Kyle Gray is an Assistant Professor of Earth Science and Science Education at the University of Northern Iowa. His research emphases include improving geoscience courses for elementary education majors, developing inquiry-based lessons on geoscience topics, and developing professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers. Interests outside of science education include physical volcanology and natural hazards. Kyle has led two sessions at GSA on courses for education majors, and has led the effort to create the Teacher Education Division within NAGT.

Education: BS Geology, University of Puget Sound, MS Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, MIT Teaching, Whitworth University, PhD Secondary Curriculum and Instruction, University of Akron. Professional Experience: Project Geologist, Golder Federal Services (94-98); High School Earth Science Teacher, Academy for Academic Excellence (00-03); Middle School Science Teacher, Canton Country Day School (04-06); Adjunct Instructor, Wayne College (04); Adjunct Instructor, Stark State College (05); Adjunct Instructor, Malone College (08); Assistant Professor, University of Northern Iowa (09-present). Service - Professional: Associate Editor, Journal of Geoscience Education (12-present); NAGT Teacher Education Organizing Committee Chair (13-present). Service - Institutional: Science Education representative, University Secondary Teacher Education Senate (13-present); Teacher Education subcommittee, College Merger Committee (10).

President Heather Petcovic

Heather Petcovic is an Associate Professor holding a joint appointment in the Department of Geosciences and the Mallinson Institute for Science Education at Western Michigan University. She is actively engaged in the education of K-12 earth science teachers as an instructor of both content and blended content/methods courses and as departmental advisor to undergraduate Earth Science and Integrated Science teacher preparation programs. She has been involved with several teacher professional development projects, most recently as a consultant to the Michigan Teacher Excellence Program (MiTEP). Her research focuses on the role of fieldwork in geoscience expertise.

Education: BA Geology, Smith College; MS Geology, Oregon State University; PhD Geology, Oregon State University. Professional Experience: NSF GK-12 Teaching Fellow (2000-01), Oregon State University Science Connections Outreach Coordinator (2000-04), Western Michigan University Geosciences/Science Education joint faculty (2004-present). Teaching: Earth science for K-8 preservice teachers, earth materials, field geology, graduate courses in science education theory, research, and practice.Service: Associate Editor for the Journal of Geoscience Education (2010-present), elected officer of the GSA Geoscience Education Division (2004-08), NAGT Distinguished Lecturer (2010-11), TED Organizing Committee (2013-14). PI/Co-PI on six externally funded science education projects, published a dozen peer-reviewed papers in both research and practitioner science education journals.

Vice President Jeff Thomas

Jeff Thomas is an assistant professor of science education and earth science at Central Connecticut State University. He teaches secondary science methods, earth science and physical science for elementary majors, meteorology, and various graduate courses for in-service science teachers. Previously, Jeff was a secondary earth science teacher for twelve years and he was also a broadcast meteorologist for four years. His research interests are related to inquiry, curriculum development, geoscience education.

Education: BS Meteorology (minor in Geology), California University of Pennsylvania; Ed.D, Science Education, Teachers College, Columbia University. Professional Experience: Assistant Professor at Central Connecticut State University (08 to pres.). Professional Activity: PI for two Teacher Quality Partnership grants; Co-Pi for one Connecticut K-8 Instructional Improvement grant, and project management team member for two Math & Science Partnership grants. Professional Service:Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE) Awards Committee (10-13), reviewer for the Journal of Geoscience Education.

Secretary/Treasurer Mark Abolins

Mark Abolins is an Associate Professor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) near Nashville, TN. He is the principal investigator, coordinator, and one of five research mentors for the National Science Foundation Geosciences Directorate's first Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) specifically designed for future Earth science, chemistry, and biology middle school and high school teachers. He just completed fourteen years of service as the Middle Tennessee State University campus representative to the Tennessee Space Grant Consortium, part of the NASA National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. As the campus Space Grant representative, he oversaw numerous small grants, including grants for pre-college and graduate (MTSU Mathematics and Science Education Ph.D.) projects. He is currently recruiting presenters for 2014 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting topical session T68 on research experiences for pre-service and in-service teachers. He has published in the Journal of Geoscience Education and currently has a manuscript on field geology education in press at the journal. Other current projects include the use of education interventions and flipped instruction in introductory Earth science education.

Education: A.B. Geology, Univ. California-Berkeley; M.S. and Ph.D. Geology, Calif. Institute of Tech. Professional Experience: Geosciences Faculty, Middle Tenn. State Univ. (98-present). Service: Developed applied Geosciences master's program at Middle Tenn.; Organized GSA annual meeting field trip and 2 topical sessions; Published 3 papers (incl. 1 in press) in Journal of Geoscience Education. Awards: 1992 NSF Graduate Fellowship, 1997 Richard H. Jahns graduate assistant teaching award (Caltech Geol. & Planetary Sci.), 1998 NSF Fellowship in STEM Education (declined by me so I could accept position at Middle Tenn.).

Media Director Steve Mattox

Steve Mattox is a Professor of Geology at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. He contributes to a range of teacher preparation programs including non-science K-8, Integrated Science, Earth Science, and a secondary education Integrated Science endorsement. He has mentored 25 undergraduate science education students to present their work at state and national meetings and collaborated with 15 students on peer-reviewed publications. He continues to extend a state-wide network of high schools offering geology courses for credit at eleven Michigan colleges and universities.

Education: BS Geology Indiana University – Purdue University at Indianapolis; MS and PhD Northern Illinois University. Professional Experience: interpretive ranger National Park Service, HAVO; contract mapping geologist Utah Geological Survey, gold exploration in West Australia, mapping base metals Java Indonesia. Administrative Experience: Department Chair, Geology, GVSU; PI or co-PI of three NSF grants in education. Teaching Experience: general education courses at NIU, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and University of Hawaii at Hilo; geology, integrated science, graduate courses for inservice teachers, and general education at GVSU. Service has included: GSA Education Committee, editor of GVSU's Regional Math & Science newsletter, member of AGU, GSA, and NAGT.

New Geoscience Education Research Division Officers

President Laura Lukes

As a member of the Geoscience Learning Process Research (GLPR) team at North Carolina State University (led by David McConnell), Laura Lukes has been actively involved in two NSF-funded collaborative, interdisciplinary geoscience education research networks (GARNET and INTEGRATE). Her current research is centered on student motivation and learning in introductory geology courses and the use of qualitative methods in geoscience education research. She regularly presents her research at GSA and currently has two articles under consideration for publication in JGE and one in preparation.

Prior to joining the team at NCSU, Laura Lukes served as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at the National Science Foundation (2010-2011). While there, she served as director of the Joint Science Education Program (JSEP; a collaborative international science education program on the Greenland ice sheet for teachers and students from Greenland, the U.S., and Denmark). Laura Lukes also has over 10 years of experience teaching geoscience in a variety of learning environments (university, community college, and high school) and formats (in person, online, in the field). She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching by NAGT, GSA, Rio Salado Community College, and North Carolina State University.

Laura Lukes is actively involved in the geoscience education community. She has served as an officer in the SW section of NAGT and is currently serving as a member of the Geological Society of America's Education Committee. Additionally, she participated in the 2014 Summit on the Future of Geoscience Education and served as co-chair of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS)'s research communication workshop at the 2014 Arctic Science Summit Week in Helsinki.

In late June, Laura Lukes will be leaving the GLPR team to start a position as Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching and Faculty Excellence at George Mason University (GMU). There, she will focus on effectively communicating education research to faculty to positively influence teaching practices and student learning experiences. She will also continue to teach geoscience, designing and implementing the first geoscience course taught in GMU's Active Learning Technology classroom.

Vice President Nicole LaDue

Nicole LaDue is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences at Northern Illinois University. She is a recent graduate of a discipline-based education research Ph.D. program where she studied spatial ability and visual representations in the geosciences. Her research incorporates methodologies from the learning sciences and education research to address geoscience-specific learning challenges. In addition to visuo-spatial processing, she has studied factors affecting the recruitment of geoscientists. Nicole hopes the newly formed Geo Ed Research Division fosters a sense of community within NAGT and extends the reach of Geoscience Education Research (GER) beyond existing disciplinary boundaries.

Education: B.S. Geology, SUNY Albany; M.A.T., Cornell University; Ph.D. in Geology, Michigan State University. Teaching Experience: 9^th grade Earth Science at 2 public high schools in New York State (6 years), dual-credit physical geology through SUNY Oneonta, Global Change introductory geoscience course at MSU, science teaching methods classes at NIU. Professional Experience: 2 years as an Einstein Educator Fellow in the Directorate for Geosciences, NSF; Member of Earth Science Literacy Initiative Organizing Committee; Panel reviewer for NSF, NOAA, NEEF; Reviewer for JGE; Member of SILC (NSF Spatial Intelligence Learning Center), NSTA, NAGT, GSA.

Treasurer Kim Cheek

Kim Cheek is an assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. She teaches courses in science methods for elementary and early childhood education majors. She is interested in how students understand both deep time and the durations of geologic processes across a range of temporal scales.

Education: BA elementary education (minor special education) Goucher College, Towson, MD; M.Ed. elementary education, Towson University, Towson, MD; MS, geoscience, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS; Ph.D. education: science, Durham University, Durham, UK. Relevant teaching experience: science methods for elementary and early childhood majors, introductory earth science. Activities include: Professor in Residence at urban elementary school; text writer for Earth Science exhibit at Singapore Science Centre; curriculum consultant for Sekola Ciputra, Surabaya, Indonesia; critical stakeholder reviewer for A Framework for K-12 Science Education and NGSS; 11+ years full-time K-12 teaching experience; member SILC (Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center), GSA, NAGT, NARST, and NSTA; Phi Beta Kappa member.

Secretary Kathy Ellins

Kathy Ellins is the Program Manager at the Institute for Geophysics in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin. Kathy's current work in geoscience education addresses geoscience learning and public engagement through: (1) curriculum development for the earth/ocean/climate sciences; (2) teacher professional development; (3) multi-institutional collaborations to promote diversity in the geosciences at the K-12 and undergraduate levels; and (4) interdisciplinary projects that focus on connecting the geosciences to the visual arts. This work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and carried out in collaboration with researchers at UT-Austin, UT-Tyler, UTEP, Texas A&M University, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, SERC, and TERC. Kathy is the Chair of the EarthScope Education and Outreach Subcommittee.

New Geo2YC Division Officers

Vice President Kaatje Kraft

Education: B.A. (Geology major, Chemistry minor) Colby College; M.S. (Geology) Arizona State University; Ph.D. (Science Education) Arizona State University. Teaching: Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ (2000-present). Geo2YC/NAGT contributions: Geo2yc division Web master (2012-2014), NAGT SW-Section OESTA Coordinator (2005-present), NAGT SW-Section President (2003-2005).

Secretary/Treasurer Christine Witkowski

Education: BS Biology, Univ of Connecticut; MS Geology, Univ of Connecticut; ABD Boston University. Teaching Experience: Adjunct Instructor at Middlesex Community College (MA), Manchester Community College, Univ of Connecticut (04-10); Associate Professor of Environmental Science, Middlesex Community College (CT) (10-present). Professional Experience: Park Geologist (07-10), Dinosaur State Park (CT). Service: Pres. NAGT New England Section (07-08); Award Review Committee Member, Association of Women Geoscientists (09-11); Steering Committee & Founding Member, Geological Society of Connecticut (09-10); Planning Committee & Workshop Chair, Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Meeting (11-12); NSF Grant Review Panel (12). Awards: Jonathan Daube Faculty Award, Middlesex Community College (CT) (11).

Newsletter Editor Thomas Whittaker

I am an Assistant Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico Valencia Campus, a 2-year college located in rural Valencia County, New Mexico. I am now in my third year teaching here, after completing undergraduate and graduate training in England, New Zealand and the United States. My passions lie in paleoclimatology, environmental geochemistry and designing educational activities that I hope will inspire students of all ages to pursue a life-long interest in the geosciences. In addition to my on-campus commitments I am an advisor for and avid participant in the local branch of the New Mexico Master Naturalist program, and I work regularly with local high school students enrolled in the UNM-VC Upward Bound program.

Education: BS. Environmental Science, Univ East Anglia (UK); MS. Quaternary and Climate Studies, Univ of Maine; PhD Univ of Waikato (NZ); Post-Doc. Univ of New Mexico (11-12). Teaching Experience: Adjunct Instructor, Earth & Planetary Science at Univ of New Mexico, Main and Valencia campuses (08-10); Lecturer III Earth & Planetary Science, Univ of New Mexico Valencia (12-13); Asst. Prof. Earth & Planetary Science, Univ of New Mexico Valencia (14->). Service: Curriculum Adviser, New Mexico Master Naturalist Program (at WWCA); Instructor Upward Bound (at UNM-VC).

Webmaster Frank Granshaw

Education: BA Physics and Psychology, Linfield College; MAT Science Education, Lewis and Clark College; MS Geology, Portland State University; PhD Geology with an emphasis on Geoscience Education, Portland State University. Teaching Experience: Earth and Environmental Science at Portland Community College (1990 to present), Geology at Portland State University (2002-present). Service: Energy and physics specialist, Oregan Museum of Science and Industry (1980-1989); Mobile Computer Education Mangaer, Lawrence Hall of Science (1977-1979); Education website development for Mount Rainer and Rocky Mountain National Parks, Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission, PSU Glacier Program, Teachers on the Leading Edge, and Artemis Science. Organizational Experience: Oregon Counselor for NAGT Pacific Northwest Section; Founding committee member of Geo2YC; Co-organizer of 2YC session and activities at the 2009 GSA national conference; Center for Learning and Teaching in the West Fellow.

Archivist Amber Kumpf

Education: BS. Applied Geophysics, Michigan Tech Univ (02); MS. Oceanography Marine Geology and Geophysics; (All but revisions completed towards a PhD), Univ of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (10). Teaching Experience: Adjunct Instructor Oceanography, Univ Rhode Island (08); Adjunct Instructor Geology, Salem State College (09); Full-time Lecturer Geology and Oceanography, Norwich University (10-11); Continuing Contract Full-time Instructor Geology and Oceanography, Muskegon Community College (11-present). Research/Professional Experience: Geophys/Seis Intern, Marathon Oil Co. (02); Visiting Researcher Geophys Fluid Dynamics Lab, Australian National Univ (04); Phys Props Scientist, Expedition 305 and 324, JOIDES Resolution (05, 09). Service: K-12 Outreach Program Leader, Office of Marine Programs Univ of Rhode Island (03-08); Volunteer Judge, Nat'l Ocean Sciences Bowl (07); External Reviewer, Lab Assessment Team, JOIDES Resolution (10).