Research Theme:
STEM Faculty Teaching Professional Development
In the first year of the program Fellows will engage with a DBER community of practice by collaborating in interdisciplinary STEM Education Research projects already funded and established at MTSU.
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In the second year of the program Fellows will select a research mentor and complete an independent DBER research project that aligns with the research theme. This will allow postdoctoral scholars to bring their experiences in STEM fields to the forefront of their research agenda, have a broader impact on institutional change in their future careers, and become boundary spanners between STEM and DBER disciplinary communities.
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Research Products
Mohr, C. (2025 August). The Human Side of Error: A Mathematician's Journey from Computation to Classroom. Abstract presented at the MAA MathFest conference, Sacramento, CA. ​
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Mohr, C. Wang, C., Freeman, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Davis, L., Gardner, G., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Puente, A. Rushton, G, & Temilade-Mafe, T. (2025 August). More Than the Sum: A Four Frames Analysis of Mathematics Departmental Teaching Culture. Poster presented at the MAA MathFest conference, Sacramento, CA.
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Wang, C., & Mohr, C. (2025, August). Motivating Laplace Transformations in Differential Equations Using Applications to Circuit Analysis. Abstract presented at the MAA MathFest conference, Sacramento, CA. ​​​
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Foley, M.E., Rowland-Shaefer, E., & Barnes, M.E. (2025, July). A "CURE" for Exclusion? Exploring How a Science Communication Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience May Bolster Science Identity. Poster presented at the Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research conference, Minneapolis, MN.
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Foley, M.E., Rowland-Shaefer, E., & Barnes, M.E. (2025, July). A "CURE" for Exclusion? Exploring How a Science Communication Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience May Bolster Science Identity. Poster presented at the Science Communication Education Research Coordination Network Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
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Puente, A., Wang, C., Nkuah, A., Rushton, G., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Freeman, A., Gardner, G., Malone, A., & Mohr, C. (2025, June). Empowering STEM Faculty: A Theory of Change Grounded in Self-Determination and Strengths-Based Reflection. Poster presented at the Transforming Institutions Conference, Accelerating Systemic Change Network, St. Louis, MO.
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Mohr, C., Freeman, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Puente, A., Wang, C., Gardner, G., & Rushton, G. (2025, June). Characterizing STEM Departmental Teaching Culture: A Literature Review of the How, the Why, and the What. Poster presented at the Transforming Institutions Conference, Accelerating Systemic Change Network, St. Louis, MO.
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Freeman, A., Mohr, C., Gardner, G., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Puente, A., Rushton, G., Wang, C., & Bleiler-Baxter, S. (2025, June). Unpacking department teaching culture through the lens of self-determination theory. Poster presented at the Transforming Institutions Conference, Accelerating Systemic Change Network, St. Louis, MO.
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Malone, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Freeman, A., Gardner, G., Mohr, C., Nkuah, A., Puente, A., Rushton, G., & Wang, C. (2025, June). Behind the Research: A Team Building and Productivity Case Study. Poster presented at the Transforming Institutions Conference, Accelerating Systemic Change Network, St. Louis, MO .
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Bleiler-Baxter, S., Freeman, A., Rushton, G., Mohr, C., Puente, A., Nkuah, A., Wang, C., Malone, A., & Gardner, G. (2025, June). Teaching TRIOS: Lessons Learned from a Strengths-Based Approach to Peer Observation. Paper presented at the Transforming Institutions Conference, Accelerating Systemic Change Network, St. Louis, MO.
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Foley, M.E, Barnes, M.E. (2025, March). CURE inception: Teaching undergraduate biology students science communication about culturally controversial topics by having them research how undergraduates currently communicate. Poster presented at MTSU College of Basic & Applied Sciences Scholars Week, Murfreesboro, TN.
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Mohr, C., Wang, C., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Freeman, S., Malone, A., Puente, A, Gardner, G., Rushton, G. (2025, March). Catalyzing departmental change: A literature review of barriers, drivers, and framing. Poster presented at MTSU College of Basic & Applied Sciences Scholars Week, Murfreesboro, TN.
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Freeman, A., Foley, M., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Malone, A., Mohr, C., Puente, A., Wang, C., Gardner, G., Rushton, G. (2025, March). Measuring STEM department teaching culture: A survey developed using self-determination theory. Poster presented at MTSU College of Basic & Applied Sciences Scholars Week, Murfreesboro, TN.
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Mohr, C., Wang, C., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Freeman, A., Malone, A., Puente, A., Gardner, G, Rushton, G. (2025, March). Catalyzing departmental change: A literature review of barriers, drivers, and framing. Poster presented at the annual Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education (RUME) conference, Alexandria, VA.
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Mohr, C., Wang, C., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Foley, M., Freeman, A., Malone, A., Gardner, G., Rushton, G. (2025, January, Conference canceled due to inclement weather). Catalyzing departmental change: A literature review of barriers, drivers, and framing. Poster presented at the Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference (SSERC), Birmingham, AL.
Freeman, A., Foley, M., Bleiler-Baxter, S., Malone, A., Mohr, C., Puente, A., Wang, C., Gardner, G., Rushton, G. (2025, January, Conference canceled due to inclement weather). Measuring STEM department teaching culture: A survey developed using self-determination theory. Poster presented at the Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference (SSERC), Birmingham, AL.
