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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 |
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Amanda Dixon, M.Ed. (She/Her) |
Assistant Director of High School Initiatives
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M.Ed., Vanderbilt University – Organizational Leadership |
Amanda recruits students and directs the admissions process for the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV). She provides administrative, instructional, and student support to the SSMV. She also provides administrative support to the ISR program. She facilitates communication, recruitment, and information sharing between the SSMV and Metro Nashville Public Schools. She is also responsible for managing evaluation and data collection for high school programs. |
amanda.dixon@vanderbilt.edu |
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Menton M. Deweese, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
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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 social media accounts. |
menton.deweese@vanderbilt.edu
Twitter: @mentondeweese |
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Rebekah Stanton, Ph.D. (She/Her) |
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt |
Ph.D, Brigham Young University – Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation |
Dr. Stanton is a researcher in the Earth and Environmental Sciences department and also 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 and wildlife in extreme climates, 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 |
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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 |
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Taurean Brown, Ph.D. |
Instructor, 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 Interdisciplinary Science and Research program at Hillsboro High School. 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 |
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Nathaniel Freymeyer, Ph.D (He/Him) |
Instructor, Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program
Co-Director, Research Experience for High School Students
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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 |
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Kiara T. Vann, Ph.D. |
Instructor, Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program
Co-Director, Research Experience for High School Students
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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 |
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Nicolas Means, Ph.D. (he/him/his) |
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt & Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program |
Ph.D., The University of Oklahoma – Health Sciences Center |
Dr. Means is an instructor and co-teacher for the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and the Interdisciplinary Science and Research program, respectively. Guided by his training in cancer biology, Dr. Means is driven to expand student opportunity and interest in STEM fields of study, with an emphasis on biomedical research. He hopes to use the CSEO program model for future collaborative initiatives in the midwestern U.S. |
nicolas.means@vanderbilt.edu |
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Desmond Campbell, Ph.D. (He/Him/His) |
Program Manager of Middle School Initiatives |
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University – Physics, Imaging Science
M.A., Fisk University – Physics, Material Science |
Dr. Campbell, also known as Dr. Des, serves as the program manager for several of the CSEO’s middle school efforts, including the Day of Discovery and Scientist in the Classroom Partnership programs. 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
LinkedIn: Desmond Campbell |
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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 15+ 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 |
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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 |
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Sarah Huneycutt, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers) |
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 |
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Jordan Racca, Ph.D., Au.D. (He/They) |
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
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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 the Day of Discovery program at the Nashville Zoo and at Isaac Litton Middle School. They are excited to use their scientific training to develop inclusive and equitable STEAM curriculum that utilizes non-traditional educational spaces at various Nashville Community Resources. |
jordan.racca@vanderbilt.edu
LinkedIn: Jordan Racca |
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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. |
jennifer.j.gentry@vanderbilt.edu |
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