CINSAM SYNERGIES
Fall 2020
STEM Peer Mentors
The STEM Peer Mentors program evolved from the Project FORCE STEM Ambassador program that has existed on campus since 2010. For 10 years the STEM Ambassadors ran as an academic and social support group for our STEM students. We looked at many successful initiatives both on and off campus, and felt that a large piece that was missing from all of our departments, was a strong mentoring program. Our goal is to create an atmosphere of belonging for our freshman students, by normalizing the difficulty many students face in STEM majors through shared experiences with the mentor. Many of the academic supports the STEM Ambassadors provided, have now been integrated into the departments, so we are able to offer more cocurricular support to students through the STEM Peer Mentors than we were through the STEM Ambassadors program. This year, the university recognized the STEM Peer Mentors proposal with an NKU Innovation Challenge grant.
For more information or to connect with a STEM Peer Mentor, visit our website HERE.
Innovations in STEM Teaching Program (iSTP)
Ella Bowling & Amber Carter are two former classroom teachers who now comprise CINSAM’s STEM Outreach Team. They know what it takes to teach elementary and middle grades students; now they are applying their expertise to help save you the time and hassle of sorting through the many, many trainings and resources out there. Given the pandemic constraints we are all facing now, they are offering iSTP as a professional learning experience that will help make remote and socially-distanced learning work better for you and your students.
If you know teachers who might be interested, please let them know that they can contact Ella Bowling at bowlinge6@nku.edu and register here by November 13.
This program is funded by the Duke Energy Foundation, Toyota USA Foundation, and Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.
Remembering Rob Kues
Rob earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees at NKU, taught at Holy Cross High School for many years, and had been teaching at NKU since 1998.
At NKU, he reached hundreds of students every year, both high school (dual credit) students and college students. As his department chair, Dr. Erin Strome, described him "He loved teaching and inspiring his students. It was his true calling. He will be greatly missed."
To find out more about Rob, please see the Biological Sciences Department's tribute to him.
CINSAM FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
CINSAM Research Grants RFP
CINSAM seeks proposals for 2021 CINSAM Research Grant projects. STEM and STEM education research are eligible for funding. We are especially interested in supporting DBER/SOTL and interdisciplinary research as well as projects that advance equity, diversity and inclusion. The deadlines for chair and CINSAM review are 11/22 and 12/7 respectively.
Ashland Summer Camps & Academies
Stay tuned for more information on our Ashland Summer Camps and Academies program. We are delaying the timeline for submissions and selections due to the pandemic and are working on a plan that will better accommodate program providers, participants and their parents.
CINSAM-CMC STEM+ Communication Fellowship
Watch out for an exciting new STEM+ Communication Fellowship opportunity brought to you in collaboration with Cincinnati Museum Center! We aim to support faculty in their outreach efforts and to illustrate the connections between STEM and other disciplines affecting our everyday lives.
UPCOMING CINSAM EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
CINSAM SPOTLIGHTS
Beth Koch
Mary McNeill
Julia Bedell
For more than 25 years, Julia Bedell has taught and advised NKU’s Chemistry and Biochemistry students. As Chemistry Department advisor and instructor for CHE 125, Julia is dedicated to helping first-year Chemistry students transition to college. In 2016, she and CINSAM’s Ellen Hokkanen created the STEM Expo as a way to connect STEM students with STEM organizations and clubs on campus. A NKU Master Advisor with a special distinction in Cultural Competence, Julia was nominated for Outstanding Advisor in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and was awarded 2019 Outstanding Academic Advisor! In addition to her on campus work, Julia is active with the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), helping to facilitate webinars as a member of the NACADA Emerging Leaders Program and chair of the STEM Advising Community. When she is not in class or an advising appointment, Julia can be found mentoring Chemistry teaching assistants.