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Participants:
Biographies:
Nancy C. Grim Hunter, Assistant Professor of Science Education and Chemistry
My role in life seems to be builder or bridges.
Early in life, I tutored my siblings and classmates through middle and
high school. My science fair projects on Biological Oxygen Demand and
Thin Layer Chromatography earned a scholarship at Ohio University where
I earned my B.S. Chemistry degree in 1993. During those years, I struggled
with the idea of teaching versus lab science and whether or not I should
change my major to Biology or Environmental Science. My senior research
was in small-scale chemistry education laboratory development.
I moved to Miami University of Ohio and began
my studies as the first graduate student in the chemistry education program.
During those years, I worked towards a Ph. D. in Chemistry Education with
joint emphasis in Chemistry Education, Analytical, and Physical Organic.
I was technically ABD when I settled for a double masters in Chemistry
and in Education in 1996. My thesis involved scenario-based investigations
for first-year chemistry students. Teaching full-time, being a graduate
student full-time, working on numerous NSF science education grants, and
helping to nurse my mother until she died was too much.
Having settled in Chicago with my husband (Bob)
in 1996, I taught high school and middle school science, all subjects,
for a couple of years until I was invited to teach at Chicago State University
for some science workshops. The relationship worked so well, I was invited
to stay on as a lecturer of Chemistry and Physical Science. Nearly three
years ago, I was asked to consider a joint tenure-track appointment in
both Science Education and Chemistry. As part of that agreement, I have
nearly completed a new doctoral program in Science Education at the University
of Illinois at Chicago.
My role as a bridge builder works wonders here
at Chicago State University. I teach courses in both colleges and both
sets of faculty use me as the liaison to talk to the other. Currently,
I am the Director of the Teacher Quality Enhancement Middle School Project
at Chicago State. In that grant project, we are working to co-create best
practices in the curriculum for all education majors, starting with the
middle school teacher candidates. I envision that this FIRST II Project
will help me personally in my middle school and elementary education methods
courses. In addition, this project will give our team ideas to integrate
meaningful content and experiences into the general education science
courses for all students and for the teacher candidates of the future.
We hope to build yet another bridge for our future students and their
students.
Joyce J. Jones, Associate Professor of Biology
Chicago State University has a special place for
me. I graduated from CSU with a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Education
(1970). I worked on a M.S. in Biology (Cell & Dev) at the University
of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (1974). I have taught all grade levels
specializing as a Bilingual Science Teacher. I moved to the University
of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO where I earned a Ph.D. in Biology (Cell
& Mol) in 1993. I then stayed at the University of Missouri-Columbia,
Columbia, MO to work on a postdoctoral fellowship from 1993-1997 in Physiology
(Cardiovascular).
During the years at the University of Missouri-Columbia,
I began serving as a mentor to minority students. This led to serving
as a mentor/facilitator for a number of programs involving high school
through graduate school students in the sciences. My work later led to
a position as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology.
Even then, my love for teaching has drawn me home to Chicago.
Currently as an Association Professor of Biology,
I teach biology courses for preservice teacher candidates and for the
secondary education biology teacher candidates. The FIRST II Project looks
to help me redesign my Biology Concepts for Teachers class and my methods
courses for the Biology Secondary Education majors. In addition, our team
is redesigning the certification in science education courses. This project
will give us great tools to integrate into the curriculum.
Marea Spentzos, Lecturer of Environmental Science and Middle/High School
Teacher
I am a geologist who is now teaching ninth grade
environmental, earth, and space science at John F. Kennedy School in Chicago
and serving as lecturer/curriculum developer for general education science
courses at Chicago State University. I have a particular interest in ecological
systems. I can see how the experiences at the swamp will be considered
"cool" for students who are city-bound.
My degrees include a B.A. Geology from the University
of Montana (1997) and an MAT in Secondary Education from Chicago State
University (2002). I am considering working towards a doctoral degree
in either Science Education or in Environmental Science. Between degrees
I have worked at the Science and Industry Museum as a docent in hands-on
science exhibits. For me, I can no longer separate being a scientist from
being a teacher.
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