Todd Campbell, professor and head of the Neag School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, has been appointed to a three-year term on the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for STEM Education Advisory Committee. The committee consists of about 20 national leaders, researchers, and practitioners, who meet twice a year to provide insights and recommendations on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.
“I am humbled and honored to be approached by and appointed to the advisory committee,” Campbell says.
Campbell specializes in science education and his research focuses on cultivating imaginative and equitable representations of STEM activity. This is accomplished in formal science learning environments through partnering with future and current science teachers and leaders to collaboratively focus on supporting student use of modeling (i.e., explanatory; complex systems modeling) as a way to reason about events that happen in the natural world and solve local problems of community consequence. His work also extends into informal learning environments through a focus on iterative design of informal learning spaces and equity- and justice-focused STEM education research.
“Dr. Campbell is an outstanding researcher and a heartfelt advocate for equity-based STEM education,” Dean Jason G. Irizarry says. “He will bring an important perspective and voice to the Directorate for STEM Education Advisory Committee, directly impacting education policy and practice across the nation. This is one of the highest levels of service that a faculty member can give, and I thank Dr. Campbell for representing UConn and the Neag School in this way.”
Dr. Campbell … will bring an important perspective and voice to the Directorate for STEM Education Advisory Committee, directly impacting education policy and practice across the nation. — Dean Jason G. Irizarry
The Directorate for STEM Education has a more than $1 billion budget and aims to achieve excellence in STEM education at all levels and in all U.S. settings, in order to support and develop a diverse and well-prepared workforce and a well-informed citizenry. Its key strategies include preparing and supporting teachers and faculty who can inspire students in STEM areas, investing in research, ensuring the U.S. STEM community reflects the diversity of the nation, and promoting STEM knowledge in adults.
Campbell’s term on the advisory committee runs from April 2024 to December 2027.
“I am delighted that you will be joining the Committee and look forward to having your perspectives and contributions,” wrote James L. Moore III, assistant director of the Directorate, in an onboarding letter to Campbell.
In the end, Campbell recognizes the importance of this appointment as he shared: “I see this as an opportunity to support national leaders at NSF, like Dr. Moore, who are committed to envisioning and making more equitable, just, and responsive forms of STEM education a reality.”
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