People

Our core interdisciplinary team of researchers who focus on inclusion in undergraduate STEM span biology education, geosciences education, engineering education, math education, sociology, and higher education. Our affiliate members are strongly interested in translating our research findings into policy and practice. If you are at Arizona State University and are interested in becoming either a core member or an affiliate member, please contact us for more information.

Leadership

Sara Brownell

Director
[email protected]
Website

Trained as a PhD neuroscientist, Sara transitioned to become a discipline-based education researcher and conducts research on how we can make undergraduate biology learning environments more inclusive, specifically focusing on women, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, transfer students, and religious students.

Kristen Parrish

Associate Director
[email protected]
Website

Kristen Parrish is an Associate Professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and Chair of the Graduate Programs for the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University (ASU).

Core faculty and staff

Brooke Coley

Assistant Professor
[email protected]

Bio: Dr. Brooke Coley is an assistant professor in engineering at the Polytechnic School of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. Prior to joining the Polytechnic School, Dr. Coley completed…

Katelyn (Katey) Cooper

Assistant Professor
, Director of the Mental Health Division
[email protected]
Website

Katey is the PI of the Cooper Biology Education Research Lab at ASU. Her research group examines how to make biology learning environments more inclusive for students with anxiety and depression. In addition, Katey leads RISE research projects…

Antonio Duran

Assistant Professor
[email protected]
Website

Antonio Duran, PhD (he/him/él) is an assistant professor in higher and postsecondary education at Arizona State University. His research examines how historical and contemporary legacies of oppression (e.g., racism, heterosexism, trans oppressi…

Firoz Firozzaman

[email protected]

I have been teaching at ASU since January 2002. My interest is in teaching and researching mathematics, especially for K-12. I have developed a foundation course (AP Precalculus) for STEM students. In this course, students have the opportunity…

Chris Mead

Assistant Research Scientist
[email protected]

Bio: I am an Assistant Research Scientist in the School of Earth & Space Exploration and the Center for Education Through Exploration at Arizona State Univeristy. I received my PhD in Isotope Geochemistry and Disciplin…

Barret Michalec

Associate Professor
, Director - Center for Advancing Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research (CAIPER)
[email protected]

Bio: A sociologist by training, Michalec’s research examines socialization and professionalization processes and mechanisms nested within health professions education and practice – most notably those impacting socio-emoti…

Fabio Milner

School of Mathematics Center Director & Professor
[email protected]

Bio: Dr. Fabio Milner studies structured population models, including demography, epidemics, ecology, and tumor growth. Populations are usually structured by age (demographic and/or age-of-disease), and may also be structu…

Saumya Ramanathan

Assistant Professor of Genetics
[email protected]

I am a cancer-biologist by training and my lab studies the expression patterns and biochemical function of group of genes that are aberrantly expressed in many cancers. Our future goals, in addition to cancer research, is to identify equitable…

Darryl Reano

Assistant Professor
[email protected]

Bio: Darryl Reano is an assistant professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration. Reano's research is focused on creating culturally relevant educational environments using Indigenous research frameworks. Before jo…

Dr. Rod Roscoe in front of a beige wall wearing a broad-striped polo of dark and light olive green stripes

Rod D. Roscoe

Associate Professor
[email protected]

Bio: I am a queer, able-bodied (ish) person of the global majority. I enjoy reading, video games, and television, typically with a science fiction or fantasy theme. I also enjoy amateur nature photography and collage art p…

Dr. Dina Verdin in front of a white background wearing a dark teal, short-sleeved blouse, black thick-rimmed, wingtip glasses, and colorful long beaded earrings

Dina Verdín

Assistant Professor
[email protected]

Bio: Dr. Dina Verdín is trained in the fields of Engineering Education and Industrial Engineering. She is a Mexican-American, Southern California native who was the first in her family to attend college (i.e., first-genera…

Core Research Team

Brownell Biology Education Research Team

Ben Chan

P.h.D Student
[email protected]

Baylee Edwards

PhD Student
, RISE Center Liaison to the Teaching Innovation Center
[email protected]

Baylee Edwards is a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Biology and Society program at Arizona State University. She explores student and instructor perceptions of the relationship between religion and evolution and how those perceptions impact student experiences and learning in undergraduate biology courses. Edwards is currently a research assistant in the Brownell Biology Education…

Danielle Pais

Research Aide

Danielle Pais is a research aide at the RISE Center with a diverse academic and research background. She holds an M.Sc. in Sociology from Ghent University and earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences (Neurobiology) and a B.A. in French from Arizona State University. Her research expertise spans benzodiazepine prescribing practices, accessibility for students with disabilities in higher…

Riley Pizza

Postdoctoral Scholar
[email protected]

Dr.

Cooper Biology Education Research Team

Olivia Davis

Postdoctoral Scholar
, Coordinator of Postgraduate Mental Health Initiatives
[email protected]

Olivia Davis is a postdoctoral fellow in the Cooper Biology Education Research Lab. She is currently working on an NSF-funded project to test mental health interventions aimed to mitigate fear of failure in science graduate students.

Mary Kahraman

PhD Candidate
[email protected]

Mary is a first-generation Assyrian college student from Guatemala. At Arizona State University, Mary has acquired her Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry with a minor in Psychology. Drawing from her background in psychology , she has worked on projects concerning the mental health of undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, Mary has begun looking at the experiences of LGBTQ+…

Tasneem Mohammed

Ph.D Candidate
[email protected]

Bio: Tasneem is a first-generation and transfer student born in Phoenix, Arizona, originally from Palestine. She received her Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in Biological Sciences at ASU. Her Master's research examined how to create more supportive online courses for students with depression. Tasneem is currently a 4th year Ph.D candidate and is a recipient of the…

Jynx Pigart

Ph.D. Candidate
[email protected]

Growing up in NY and NC, Jynx later earned her BS in Biology & Psychology at East Carolina University. She's explored behavioral biology, clinical psychology, and STEM education research during undergrad. She aims to merge her last two undergraduate experiences through mixed methods, with a particular interest in applying innovative quantitative methods to understand graduate student…

Teona Savic

Undergraduate Researcher
[email protected]

Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Teona moved to Arizona to pursue a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Genetics, Cell, and Developmental Biology. She plans to spread awareness and advocate for inclusivity through biology education research and eventually in her practice as a physician.