NSF Noyce Program Directors

Jennifer Ellis, Program Lead
Jennifer Ellis, Noyce Program Lead, is from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she is an associate professor and director of STEM Education.  Dr. Ellis brings experience in secondary STEM teacher preparation. Her research interests include effective integration of educational technology to enhance STEM teaching and learning as well as in accessible cyberlearning via iterative instructional design. Contact her at jtellis@nsf.gov.

Leah McAlister-Shields, Program Co-Lead

Leah McAlister-Shields joins NSF from the University of Houston where she is a Clinical Assistant professor of mathematics and a member of the teachHouston program. Her research and grant work involves examining the implementation of culturally relevant pedagogy across STEM education preparation programs and the development of curriculum grounded in cultural experiences, advocacy for social justice, and the critical awareness of issues faced by marginalized populations. Contact her at lmcalist@nsf.gov

Olivia S. Long, Program Director

Olivia Long joins NSF from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, where she is an Associate Professor of Biochemistry who has over a decade of experience teaching biology and biochemistry at the undergraduate level at a regional primary undergraduate institution. She is a passionate advocate for including students in authentic research, incorporating innovative interdisciplinary teaching methods and currently researches student STEM identity formation. Contact her at olong@nsf.gov

Josephine Rodriguez, Program Director

Josephine Rodriguez joins NSF from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise where she is an entomologist and associate professor of biology. Contact her at jrodrigu@nsf.gov.

Jonathan Singer, Program Director

Jonathan Singer joins NSF from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he is a Professor of Science Education. His research focuses on teacher professional development and curriculum design with an emphasis on project-based science. Contact him at jsinger@nsf.gov

Lulu Sun, Program Director

Lulu Sun joins NSF from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she is a professor in the Engineering Fundamentals Department. Her research interests include gamified learning, flipped classroom, best practices of virtual training delivery, VR/AR, and entrepreneurship in engineering education. Contact her at lsun@nsf.gov.

 

Robert (Bud) Talbot, Program Director

Bud Talbot joins NSF from the University of Colorado Denver, where he is an Associate Professor of Science Education. His research focuses on undergraduate STEM teaching and learning, with an emphasis on peer teaching and support. Bud is also an experienced middle and high school physics teacher. Contact him at rtalbot@nsf.gov

Patrice Waller, Program Director

Patrice Waller joined NSF from California State University, Fullerton where she serves as an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education. Her research interests include preservice and in-service mathematics teacher development, specifically targeting practices of culturally responsive mathematics teaching, and teaching mathematics for social justice. Dr. Waller has also published in the area of improving clinical experiences in secondary mathematics education and engaging mentor teachers and teacher candidates during the methods courses. Contact her at pwaller@nsf.gov.