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CSEO Staff

 

Corey Brady, Ph.D.
Faculty Director, CSEO
Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Dartmouth – Mathematics Education
M.A., University of Virginia – English Language and Literature
M.S., University of Chicago – Pure Mathematics
As faculty director, Corey Brady fosters educational research efforts both on and in CSEO programs. He engages with the CSEO faculty to support and study the impact that the programs have on their participants over time. And he aims to engage researchers from across Vanderbilt in working with CSEO faculty to co-design innovative STEM learning activities and environments for the benefit of participants in the programs. Corey is passionate about the CSEO’s ability to bring non-traditional and innovative STEM learning experiences to a diverse and inclusive community within Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS).
corey.brady@vanderbilt.edu
Angela Eeds, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Director, CSEO
Director of High School Initiatives
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University – Molecular Biology; Biomedical Research and Genetics
Dr. Eeds leads the endeavors of the CSEO for high school students including the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV), the Research Experience for High School Students, and the Interdisciplinary Science and Research program. At the SSMV, in addition to overseeing collaborative curriculum development and implementation, Dr. Eeds is one of the instructors. She incorporates her background in molecular biology and genetics into various lessons and research projects.
angela.eeds@vanderbilt.edu
Joe Lopez, Ph.D.
Administrative Officer, CSEO
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University – Pathology
M.Ed., Vanderbilt University – Curriculum and Instructional Leadership
Dr. Lopez manages the business operations of the CSEO, which includes grants and contracts management, budgetary and personnel records management, and oversight of compliance with university and governmental policies. He also manages the Journal of STEM Outreach. In his previous “work-life” in biomedical science, he studied macrophages and myobacteria in the lab of Dr. Virginia Shepherd.
joe.lopez@vanderbilt.edu
Amanda Dixon, M.Ed.
Assistant Director of High School Initiatives
Admissions Director and MNPS Liaison, SSMV
M.Ed., Vanderbilt University – Organizational Leadership
Mrs. Dixon recruits students and manages the admissions process for the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV). She provides support for students enrolled in the SSMV, and facilitates communication between the SSMV and Metro Nashville Public Schools. She also provides instructional and administrative support, manages the SSMV online and social media presence, and coordinates internal evaluation and data collection.
amanda.dixon@vanderbilt.edu
Greta Clinton-Selin
Educational Program Specialist, CSEO
Ms. Clinton-Selin can be found offering essential support for all instructional staff, administrators, and student participants in CSEO programs. She serves as kit coordinator for the Scientist in the Classroom Partnership program and provides supplementary enrichment to high school students with the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt afterschool study skills class. Additionally, Ms. Clinton-Selin manages the Peabody makerspace alongside team members with Vanderbilt’s innovation and design Center, the Wond’ry.
greta.c.selin@vanderbilt.edu
Menton M. Deweese, Ph.D.
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt
Ph.D., University of Florida – Psychology, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
M.S., University of Florida – Psychology
Dr. Deweese is an Instructor at the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV) where she is passionate about teaching, training, and mentoring the next generation of STEM leaders. She remains an active neuroimaging (EEG, fMRI) researcher interested in the neural mechanisms underlying compulsive cue-induced behaviors (e.g., nicotine addiction and obesity), and often weaves this content into her classroom lessons and research projects. Additionally, Dr. Deweese coordinates the Professional Development efforts for CSEO Postdoctoral Fellows and manages the SSMV Twitter and Instagram accounts.
menton.deweese@vanderbilt.edu
Twitter: @mentondeweese
Rebekah Stanton, Ph.D.
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt
Ph.D, Brigham Young University – Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation
Dr. Stanton is an Instructor at the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt where she has the opportunity to share her passion for ecology and earth science with the rising generation. Coming from a marine biology and desert ecology background, Dr. Stanton has a great love for the ocean and all things relating to plants, as well as a passion for education and helping others understand the super cool processes in nature through effective research and learning methods.
rebekah.stanton@vanderbilt.edu
Ana Villanueva, Ph.D.
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt
Ph.D, Purdue University – Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Villanueva is an Instructor at the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt where she emphasizes that connections between learning content and everyday artifacts are useful for students’ mental models. Her passion and experience in human-computer interaction, augmented and virtual reality informs her approach to project-based learning and fostering collaboration between students.
ana.villanueva@vanderbilt.edu
Taurean Brown, Ph.D.
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt & Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program
Co-Director, Research Experience for High School Students
Ph.D., University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (Specialization in Neuroscience)
Dr. Brown is an instructor and co-teacher for the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and Interdisciplinary Science and Research program at Hillsboro High School, respectively. Dr. Brown research background is in investigating the impact of breast cancer chemotherapy on cognitive functioning within the brain. Dr. Brown is driven by his passion for mentorship and advancing science education for young people.
taurean.brown@vanderbilt.edu
Nathaniel Freymeyer, Ph.D
Instructor, Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program
Co-Director, Research Experience for High School Students
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University – Chemistry
Dr. Freymeyer is a co-teacher for the Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program at John Overton High School. He uses his background in chemistry and nanoscience to help students develop critical thinking skills to solve challenging problems. He hopes to inspire students to pursue a career in the sciences and to help develop a new generation of scientists.
n.freymeyer@vanderbilt.edu
Kiara T. Vann, Ph.D.
Instructor, Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program
Co-Director, Research Experience for High School Students
Ph.D., Morehouse School of Medicine – Biomedical Sciences (Specialization in Neuroscience)
Dr. Vann is a co-teacher for the Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program at Stratford STEM Magnet High School. Dr. Vann’s research background is in determining whether Acid-Sensing Ion Channels (ASICs) play a role in normal olfactory function. Dr. Vann is driven by playing a pivotal role in mentoring and training the next generation of STEM leaders.
kiara.t.vann@vanderbilt.edu
Desmond Campbell, Ph.D.
Program Manager of Middle School Initiatives
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University – Physics
M.A., Fisk University – Physics
Dr. Campbell, also known as Dr. Des, serves as the program manager for several of the CSEO’s middle and elementary school efforts, including the Day of Discovery program, the Scientist in the Classroom Partnership program, and the STEM Exploration Experiences for Kids summer camp. What inspires Dr. Campbell is how the language and art of mathematics dictates so much about how nature operates. Assisting students in understanding that art and its connections to nature drives him.
desmond.l.campbell@vanderbilt.edu
Twitter: @DC_Palbino
Yelena Janumyan, Ph.D.
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University – Cancer Biology
Dr. Janumyan has spent her research career studying the cell cycle function of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. For the last 14 years, Dr. Janumyan has worked in a middle school classroom to engage students in interdisciplinary STEM projects that help them to grow into independent thinkers, lifelong learners, and compassionate people. She is passionate about making STEM literacy accessible and creates curriculum for Day of Discovery that allows students to learn topics and master skills beyond those that they would access in middle school.
yelena.j.doe@vanderbilt.edu
Zachary Conley, Ph.D.
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Dr. Conley is an instructor with the Day of Discovery program, who enjoys developing cross-curriculum lessons that help student incorporate STEM into their passions and interests. He is an amateur fiction writer, who wants students to have self-confidence in their academic abilities.
zachary.c.conley@vanderbilt.edu
Twitter: @zconley42
Sarah Huneycutt, Ph.D.
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
Ph.D., Emory University – Psychology, Cognition & Development
Dr. Huneycutt is the instructor for Croft, McMurray, and Oliver Middle Schools at the Day of Discovery program located at the Nashville Zoo. Sarah utilizes her background in comparative research into the cognitive abilities of apes and human children to introduce students to the exciting aspects of animal behavior research. Utilizing the varied species of the Nashville Zoo, Dr. Huneycutt is passionate about introducing students to science through an engaging and hands on process that allows them to learn through conducting their own experiments and forming their own research questions.
sarah.p.huneycutt@vanderbilt.edu
Jordan Racca, Ph.D., Au.D.
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
Resident Scientist, Mckissack Middle School
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University – Auditory Neuroscience
Au.D., University of Texas at Dallas – Doctor of Audiology
CCC-A, Certification of Clinical Competence in Audiology from American Speech Language Hearing Association
Dr. Racca is an instructor for 7th and 8th graders from Croft, McMurray, and Oliver Middle Schools at the Day of Discovery program at the Nashville Zoo. Additionally, Dr. Racca is the Resident Scientist at McKissack Middle School where he collaborates with the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade STEAM teacher to develop innovative hands-on STEAM curriculum. Dr. Racca is excited to use his scientific training and content knowledge in auditory neuroscience to develop inclusive and equitable STEAM curriculum that utilizes non-traditional educational spaces to engage middle school scholars in active learning.
jordan.racca@vanderbilt.edu
Jennifer Gentry, Ph.D.
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University – Neuroscience
Dr. Gentry, formerly a Day of Discovery instructor, now works with Metro Nashville Public Schools to develop resources and curriculum to support high school teachers. In addition, she assists as a guest instructor for both the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and Day of Discovery. As a former research scientist in the fields of immunology and neuroscience she has expertise in molecular biology and biochemistry. With this background, she is creating curriculum that uses science as a tool to explore phenomena in the everyday lives of students. Additionally, she incorporates scientific technologies and data to allow students to better appreciate the role that science plays in our world. Dr. Gentry wants to build confidence in students through learning so that they can experience the joy of discovery through science in the world around them.
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jennifer.j.gentry@vanderbilt.edu
Letimicia Fears, Ph.D.
Program Evaluator, CSEO
Ph.D., Tennessee State University – Biological Sciences, Microbiology and Neuropharmacology
M.S., Tennessee State University – Biological Sciences, Industrial Microbiology
Dr. Fears is the Program Evaluator, focusing on accessing the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network implementation in schools across the state. Her years in the Scientist in the Classroom Partnership program, Day of Discovery program and Resident Scientist program has afforded her classroom teaching experience with students from different backgrounds and level of interest in STEM. Dr. Fears learned to develop STEM lessons that are inclusive and reflective of the classrooms she’s working in. She loves to collaborate with educators in their classrooms or through professional development to help them develop culturally relevant, engaging content that is standards based and affirming. She is inspired by creative educators make the effort to make STEM accessible to students from different backgrounds, in the hopes of increasing science participation by underrepresented groups.
letimicia.fears@vanderbilt.edu