About Us

Dr. Anthony Petrosino is a Learning Scientist in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Texas at Austin. He received his M.Ed. from Teachers College, Columbia University (1990) before becoming a member of the Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt (1991-1998). He completed his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1998. Upon graduation, Anthony moved to The University of Wisconsin as a McDonnell Postdoctoral Fellow through the Cognitive Studies in Educational Practice (CSEP) Program. While in Wisconsin, Dr. Petrosino was a contributing member of the National Center for Improving Student Learning and Achievement in Mathematics and Science (NCISLA). He has been an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at Austin since the fall of 1999 and his research interests include the design of classroom learning environments, children's experimentation strategies and application of modern learning theory to biomedical engineering education. Address: College of Education- D5700, 1912 Speedway, SZB 462-A, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, Austin, Texas 78712; telephone: 512-232-9681, email: ajpetrosino@mail.utexas.edu

Dr. Stacy Klein is a Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University and a Physics, Math, and Biomedical Physics Teacher at the University School of Nashville. Dr. Klein holds undergraduate degrees in biomedical and electrical engineering from Duke University and a master's in biomedical engineering from Drexel University. While at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Klein completed her PhD with a specialty in cardiac MRI. Dr. Klein has taught high school level Biology, Physics, Biomedical Physics, and Math for seven years as well as introductory engineering courses at Vanderbilt. For the past three years, Dr. Klein has been working with the VaNTH ERC to design biomedical engineering curriculum for the high school level. Her modules are in their second year of field-testing in Nashville schools and a more national dissemination has begun. Dr. Klein is interested in demonstrating the usefulness of biomedical engineering as a context in which to teach high school science as well as the gender equitable approach these materials can take. Address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Box 351631, Station B, Nashville, TN, 37235. Phone: 615-322-3521. E-mail: stacy.s.klein@vanderbilt.edu.

Audie Hébert is an Administrative Associate serving as the Texas Site Coordinator for the VaNTH Engineering Research Center in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. She received her B.S. in Communication from The University of Texas at Austin in 1992. Audie is the liaison for communications between The University of Texas at Austin and the other VaNTH institutions; the Texas component of the VaNTH ERC (UT-Austin, UT-Pan American, UT-San Antonio, and the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio); and with The University of Texas System Office. She coordinates the annual VaNTH ERC Site Visit in Austin and the annual Texas: A-PASA Symposium. Audie also serves as the Texas Site Education Director and is responsible for the VaNTH ERC “Research Experience for Undergraduates” (REU) Summer Internship Program and the Student Leadership Council (SLC) at UT-Austin. Prior to her Biomedical Engineering appointment, she was employed with the Department of Economics in the College of Liberal Arts for 14 years. She served as Faculty Recruitment Coordinator and Personal Assistant to the Chairman for 10 years and as the Undergraduate Coordinator her last 4 years. Address: Biomedical Engineering – C0800, 2501 Speedway, ENS 22, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, Austin, Texas 78712; telephone: 512-232-6166, email: a_bear@mail.utexas.edu

Vicki Stratton is an Administrative Associate serving as the Program Coordinator for the VaNTH Engineering Research Center in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. She received her B.S. in Education from Southwest Texas State University (1972) and taught fifth grade elementary students for six years. Vicki handles all purchasing, appointments, and budgetary matters for the University of Texas portion of the VaNTH ERC, and helps coordinate the PER Workshops, the annual Site Visit, the Texas-A-PASA Symposium, and the REU Summer Internship Program. Prior to her Biomedical Engineering appointment, she was employed with the continuing education office in the College of Engineering, the Center for Lifelong Engineering Education, for 13 years. Serving her last 3 years as assistant director, Vicki managed a team of twelve coordinating all phases of the continuing education business operations including marketing, contract negotiation and development. Address: Biomedical Engineering – C0800, 2501 Speedway, ENS 22, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, Austin, Texas 78712; telephone: 512-232-3466, email: vstratton@mail.utexas.edu

Marsha Ricks is currently a graduate student in The University of Texas @ Austin's Science Education doctoral program. She received her M.S. in Biology from the University of Houston Clear Lake Campus (1987). She has 13 years classroom teaching experience in both junior high and high school, teaching Physical and Life Science, Biology and Honors Biology II. In 1992, she also received the honor of being a summer teacher fellow at the University of Houston Clear Lake and NASA from the American Society for Cell Biology. Following her classroom teaching experience she served as Director of Science Education Programs at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas from 1991 until 2001. While at UTMB she developed and implemented science enrichment programs for both pre-college students and classroom teachers in Galveston County. As a graduate student at UT, she has participated in the VaNTH research development of Optics modules. Her research interests are asso ciated with analyzing the educational direction and subsequent outcome of students that participate in informal science education programs. Address: College of Education - Science Education Programs, 1912 Speedway, SZB 340, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712-1294; telephone: 512-471-4611, email: mricks@mail.utexas.edu

Cherie McCollough is currently a graduate student in the University of Texas at Austin’s Science Education Doctoral Program. She received her B.S. in Education (1994) and M.S. in Biology (1999) from Baylor University, Waco, Texas. She has classroom experience in Middle School Science (7th Grade – Temple Independent School District, Temple, Texas). In 2000 – 2001, she was a full time Instructor at Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas where she taught Biology I, Biology II and Zoology. Her teaching included both computer enhanced lecture instruction as well as laboratory instruction in all subject areas. During the following year a move to West Texas resulted in employment by the Schleicher County Independent School District (Eldorado, Texas) where she was the full time administrator for the Annenberg Rural School and Community Trust. Projects included incorporating technology into classrooms as well as enhancing the relationship between the school and community. As a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, she has participated in the VaNTH research development of Optics modules, a result of collaboration between the Science Education department and Biomedical Engineering Department at the University. Her research interests are in educational policy reform for improving Latino and Latina graduation rates in science and engineering college programs. Address: College of Education - Science Education Programs, 1912 Speedway, SZB 340, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712-1294; telephone: 512-471-4611, email: cherie74@aol.com

Richard Vath is a graduate research assistant and Masters student in the Math and Science Education Program at The University of Texas at Austin. He received his B.S. in Physics from Tulane University in 1999. He plans to complete his Masters degree work by August 2003, at which time he intends to pursue a PhD in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He has assisted Dr. Petrosino in his research on the role of PDA technology in pre-service education as well as on the application of modern learning theory to biomedical engineering education. Address: College of Education- D5700, 1912 Speedway, SZB 462-D, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, Austin, Texas 78712; telephone: 512-232-9684, email: rvath@mail.utexas.edu

Melissa Tothero is a Project Coordinator for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to this, Melissa served as a secondary science teacher in North East Independent School District in San Antonio,Texas where she taught Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics. She received her Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Science Education from UT-Austin in 1995. During the following five years, Melissa was a Science Writer, Editor, Instructional Designer and Project Manager for many award-winning CD-ROM interactive science education products published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Address: The University of Texas at Austin, Learning Technology Center, 1 University Station, D5900, Austin Texas 78712-0385 Office Number: SZB 518-J, telephone: 512-232-9598, email: mtothero@mail.utexas.edu

C. Elaine Bohls-Graham is a Chemistry Teacher at A. N. McCallum High School in Austin, Texas. She received her B. S. in Geology from Baylor University (1984) and attended the University of Texas, Austin, to receive her Teaching Certifications in Composite Science and Earth Sciences (1986-1987). She taught middle school sciences for 3 1/2 years before moving to McCallum High School, in Fall 1997. She has been an IPC TexTeams Instructor for AISD and ESC Region 13 (1998-2002), a supervising teacher with the University of Texas UTeach Program, and a PT3 Fellow with the University of Texas (2001). Elaine is also a member of the Austin ISD District Technology Leadership Team. Her educational interests range from field investigations using remote sensing technology (basically , anything relating to geology) to exploring and incorporating new classroom technology for enhancing her students' learning (whether it be graphing calculators and CBL's or learning to create and present multi-media presentations). Address: A. N. McCallum High School, 5600 Sunshine Drive, Austin, Texas 78756; telephone: (512)841-2217, email: ebohls@austin.isd.tenet.edu

T. Michael Word received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Southwest Texas State University. He then went to work teaching eighth grade math, Algebra and Geometry at Driscoll Middle School in the North East Independent School District of San Antonio. After two years of commuting from Austin to San Antonio, he relocated to Fulmore Middle School in South Austin. At Fulmore, Michael taught everything from seventh grade math to Geometry for eighth graders. After four years at Fulmore, Michael transferred to the math and science magnet and remains teaching Algebra and Geometry to the junior high students.

Jesus Gonzales recieved his Bachelor of Science from from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991, and his Masters in Mathematics from the University of Texas in 1994. His first teaching position was at Bedichek Middle School in Austin, Texas from 1995-2000. Since then he has taught at Bowie High School and now teachers at McCallum H.S. in Austin. Jesus has also been an adjunct instructor in math at Austin Community College since 2000.

Martin Wise is a science teacher at W.B. Travis High School in Austin, Texas and is currently completing his third year of teaching. Certified in teaching biology and physical science, he has taught biology, chemistry, integrated physics and chemistry, and aquatic science. He received his master's in aquatic science at Southwest Texas State University, and a bachelor's in biology from The University of Texas.

Carolyn McCormick is a Science teacher at James Bowie H.S. from 1992 until present, where she teaches Honors Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Texas in 1990. In addition to her academic duties, she has also served as the Boys and Girls Cross Country coach at Bowie since 1993.