About Meridian

Co-Editors:

Rita Hagevik is a visiting instructor and Ph.D. candidate in Science
Education and Forestry in the Departments of Math, Science, and
Technology Education and Natural Resources at North Carolina State
University. She specializes in the use of and research in Geographic
Information Systems (GIS), spatial cognition, and the teaching of
thinking skills. Particular interests include environmental programs,
teacher retention and mentoring, and the applications of technology to
research.

rita_hagevik@ncsu.edu

Beth Snoke is a Masters student in Instructional Technology. She earned a BS in Physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Beth has taught high school physics and currently works as web master and coordinator of the Asheville Outreach Office of The Science House. Her interests include technology integration in science and mathematics education.

beth_snoke@ncsu.edu

Meridian Review Board:

kcreech@dpi.state.nc.us

Maria Droujkova has a B.S. degree in Mathematics from Moscow State University, M.S. in Applied Mathematics from Tulane. She is a Ph.D. candidate at NCSU’s Mathematics Education department. Maria’s research is devoted to the role of metaphors in mathematical understanding. One of her favorite hobbies is helping young children play with advanced mathematics. Website: http://www.naturalmath.com

maria@naturalmath.com

Nancy Fire has worked for the past 30 years as a training designer with people working in human services fields. She works hard to design online learning to help people make changes in their job skills as a result of the training. She worked with the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance System (NECTAS) for almost 8 years working with national demo and outreach projects and personnel issues for 0-5 efforts in the states. She is completing her doctoral work in the area of Web training and adult education.

wbtdesignnf@yahoo.com

Lynnae Flynn is a 2nd year doctoral student in Science Education at North Carolina State University. She received her BS in science education in 1995 from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught biology and physical science for four years at Sanderson High School in Raleigh, NC, before going back to graduate school in 1999. She received her MS in science education from NCSU in 2001. Her research interests include technology use and the “digital division” between students of differing backgrounds.

flynnae7@bellsouth.net

Kris Fowler is the Assistant to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Natural Resources at NC State University. Her work focuses upon enrollment management for the College of Natural Resources. She has a BS degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from NC State University and has an MS in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from NC State in May, 2003. Kris's research interests involve using Geographic Information Systems software as a primary tool to engage and motivate young people in the study of natural resources.

kris_fowler@ncsu.edu

Tina Link is an applicant to the doctoral program in Curriculum and Instruction. She has a B.S. Ed. in Science Education from Georgia State and a M.Ed. and Ed.S. in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. Her certification areas include middle and secondary science, the principalship, and the superintendency. She has taught various science courses in both South and North Carolina public high schools. Currently, she is an educator-on-loan with Triangle East Partners in Education housed in Poe Hall. Her research interests include mentoring and teacher retention as well as instruction and student performance as seen with accountability instruments.

tina_link@ncsu.edu

Rachel McBroom is a doctoral student in Science Education at North Carolina State. She worked for five years in public schools as a high school science teacher and elementary science curriculum specialist. She has worked as an adjunct science education faculty member at UNC-Pembroke for the past two years. She received a B.S. in Science Education and Chemistry from UNC-Pembroke and a M.A. in Science Education from NCSU. She currently works as a research assistant on the NSF-funded VisTE (Visualization in Technology Education) project with Dr. Eric Wiebe and Dr. Aaron Clark. Her research interests include the use of technology and visualizations in science education.

raruss@hotmail.com

Jayesh Nath is doctoral student in the ECE Department at North Carolina State University. He received a B.Tech Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, India in 2001. He is currently working as a Research Assistant in the ECE Department in the field of RF and Microwave Communication. His interests include practical uses of technology for improving the quality of life for everyone. He enjoys reading classics, rowing and Amateur Radio activties.

jnath@unity.ncsu.edu

Terrell Russell is a research assistant for the NSF Science and Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents and Processes and a graduate student in computer networking at NC State.

tgrussel@eos.ncsu.edu

David Slykhuis graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1996 with an all-science teaching degree and a coaching minor. He moved to Pana, Illinois and taught chemistry, advanced chemistry and physics for five years. He was also the girls golf coach and freshman boy's basketball coach. While in Illinois David received his Masters in Education with an emphasis in Physical Science from Eastern Illinois University in 1999. He started on his PhD here at NCSU full time this past fall, 2001. He is interested in technology and science education, especially the delivery of science content via the web to high school students.

daslykhu@unity.ncsu.edu

Lee Smith is a post-Baccalaureate student, pursuing certification in Secondary Science Education at NCSU. Lee has BS degrees in Chemistry and Geology from the University of North Carolina. Prior to entering the licensure program at NCSU, Lee was a retired executive officer of Tekelec. Lee is particularly interested in the role of technology and telecommunications in science education.

lbsmith@unity.ncsu.edu

Katrina Staley is a doctoral student in Math Education at N.C. State. She received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina A & T State University in 1989, and a Master of Science in Mathematics Education from North Carolina A & T State University in 2000. Katrina has taught both Elementary and High School math courses, and is currently working with Dr. Berenson in the Center for Research for Mathematics and Science Education as a Research Assistant. Her research interests include using technology in the classroom.

kstaley@unity.ncsu.edu

Courtney H. Thornton is the Educational Program Coordinator at the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science. She holds a B.A. in Chemistry and a B.S. in Science Education from North Carolina State University. She brings work experience from the public and private sectors that includes serving as a high school chemistry teacher and as a technician in an industrial adhesives laboratory. Courtney will complete a M.Ed. in Higher Education degree at North Carolina State University in May 2003 and is a member of several professional organizations including ACPA, ASHE, and ASGSB. In her current position, she assists in the coordination of the Kenan Fellows Program and organizes the public outreach endeavors for the NASA Specialized Center for Research and Training (NSCORT) at NC State University.

courtney_thornton@ncsu.edu

Annemarie Timmerman is a second year doctoral student in education research at NC State University. She received her B.A., C.A.S., and M.L.S. from East Carolina University. Annemarie has been a school library media specialist and a technology director in Caswell County Schools, North Carolina. Currently, she works for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a Technology Consultant.

atimmerm@dpi.state.nc.us

Mary E. Watson is a doctoral student in Science Education at North Carolina State University. She received her Masters degree in Science in geology from the University of Arizona with a concentration in paleontology and paleoecology and a BS in Geosciences from Northern Arizona University. Mary worked as an exploration geologist for Exxon and Shell, specializing in the geological evolution of offshore basins and seismic stratigraphy. Mary is a field geologist and the education and outreach coordinator for earth science with the North Carolina Geological Survey. Her scientific interests include the geology of the Deep River Triassic basin and Atlantic Coastal Plain. Her science education pursuits include studying aspects of spatial cognition as applied to the use of mapping in inquiry teaching and learning in the earth/environmental sciences.

mary.watson@ncmail.net

Shannon White is a doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction at North Carolina State University. She earned a BS in History and Social Sciences from Radford University. Shannon worked in non-traditional educational settings for three years in Virginia. She received a Masters degree from NCSU in Curriulum and Instruction with a focus in Social Studies Education in 2001. Her research interests include social studies education and instructional technology, school and community partnerships using GIS, and administrative uses of GIS in schools. She currently is working with Dr. Marsha Alibrandi as a co-instructor in Geography and GIS in Education courses at NCSU, and with Dr. Hiller Spires as a Research Assistant for the Friday Insitute for Educational Innovation.

shwhite@unity.ncsu.edu

Jason Wilson is a third year Masters student in Psychology focusing on industrial and organizational psychology. He earned a BS degree in Psychology from Appalachian State University. Jason works on web design for the College of Education for NC State, and he is also the head teaching assistant for the Learning Technologies Resource Center. Jason's research interests include work-related measurement and analysis pertaining to O*NET (An Online Occupational Information Network).

jaybear76@hotmail.com

Faculty Editorial Advisor:

http://genesislight.com/gerler/gerler.html
edwin_gerler@ncsu.edu

Managing Editor:

http://www.ncsu.edu/mega/
beckey@ahlgren.com

Technology Editor: