Noyce Program Directors

Sandra Richardson, Program Lead
Sandra Richardson is the Program Lead for the Noyce Program.  Prior to her permanent assignment at the National Science Foundation, she served as an Associate Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education at Virginia State University.  Her research is in developing pedagogical content knowledge for pre-service teachers and effective means of diversifying the STEM teacher pipeline.  She brings her expertise in teacher professional development and broadening participation efforts to the Noyce Program.

Kathleen B. Bergin, Program Co-Lead

Kathleen B. Bergin is the Program Co-Lead for the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.  She came to her permanent assignment at the National Science Foundation after she retired from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA.  In addition to passions for equity and diversity in STEM education, Bergin has focused on the importance of changing how teachers/instructors and learners engage in the process of questioning.  She brings her expertise as a biologist by training and educator by passion to the Noyce team and is a strong advocate for STEM majors becoming teachers.

Tamara Floyd-Smith, Program Director

Tamara Floyd-Smith is a Program Director from Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, where she is a Professor and Associate Provost.  She brings an active engagement in K-12 outreach to the Noyce team.  Floyd-Smith’s broadening participation research agenda has resulted in several peer reviewed journal publications which highlight evidence-based practices for engaging K-12 students with a goal of increasing STEM knowledge and stimulating interest in STEM disciplines.

Karen A. Keene, Program Director

Karen A. Keene is a Program Director from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, where she is an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education.  Her research areas are in the teaching and learning of differential equations through Inquiry-Oriented Differential Equations (IODE) and supporting mathematics instructor change at the undergraduate level.  Keene was a high school teacher for 15 years.  She brings this teaching experience and her years preparing mathematics teachers at North Carolina State to the Noyce program.

Jennifer Lewis, Program Director

Jennifer Lewis is a Program Director from the University of South Florida, Tampa, where she is a Professor and Graduate Director.  She also serves as the Director of the Center for the Improvement of Teaching and Research in Undergraduate STEM Education (CITRUS).  Lewis’s research includes discipline-based educational research in the field of chemistry.  She brings her expertise as an experienced project evaluator to the Noyce Program.

Andrea L. Nixon, Program Director

Andrea L. Nixon is a Program Director from Carleton College, Northfield, MN, where she is the Director of Educational Research.  Her research includes studies in undergraduate help seeking behaviors, as well as, educational technologies and curricular and research support for undergraduate students.  Nixon brings her extensive research experience in qualitative and mixed methods as they related to longitudinal and meta-analysis to the Noyce Program.

R. Steven Turley, Program Director

Steve Turley is a Program Director from Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, where he is a Professor of Physics.  His research is in the areas of extreme ultraviolet optics, physics education, and institutional change.  Turley brings his experience as a former Department Chair and the Associate Dean for First-Year Experience–transition to college and retention to the Noyce team.

Talitha M. Washington, Program Director

Talitha M. Washington is a Program Director from Howard University, Washington, DC, where she is an Associate Professor of Mathematics.  Her research is in dynamical systems and differential and difference equations.  Washington brings her experience conducting teacher training workshops from pre-K through college level, as well as, her experience with Hispanic Serving Institutions to the Noyce team.