Presenter Biographies

Christopher Emdin, Columbia University

Christopher Emdin is a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also serves as Director of Secondary School Initiatives at the Urban Science Education Center. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education with a concentration in Mathematics, Science and Technology, an M.S. in Natural Sciences, and Bachelors degrees in Physical Anthropology, Biology, and Chemistry. Dr. Emdin has taught middle school science and mathematics, high school physics and chemistry, and has been chair of science departments in New York City public schools.

He is a noted public speaker on issues such as the Obama Effect on Urban Education, improving STEM education, and numerous educational and socio-political issues related to urban youth of color. Dr. Emdin was co-author on the proposal to open the Marie Curie School in the Bronx, New York and has been a researcher on many National Science Foundation funded research projects in mathematics and science education.

He was recently selected as the winner of the Association for Science Teacher Education’s “Best paper for Innovation in Teaching.” He was also awarded the Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Dissertation and Emerging Leader Awards. Most recently, Dr Emdin’s work has been featured on ABC, CBS, PBS and various local media outlets. His first book, Urban Science Education for the Hip-hop Generation,was released with rave reviews on March 9th 2010.

Stephanie Mihalic, New Teacher Center

Stephanie Mihalic is a facilitator coordinator for the New Teacher Center’s e-Mentoring for Student Success Program. She joined the eMSS team in 2005 and has since been working closely with new projects as a facilitator and facilitator coordinator. Stephanie has a BS in Sociology, a MA in Special Education, and is highly qualified to teach 7-12 General Science, Social Studies, and Biology. Her AED certification also includes K-12 Special Education and an ESL endorsement. A veteran teacher of 30 years, Stephanie has worked in the areas of special education, science education, and professional development. She has taught at the middle and high school levels, and also for the Teach for America Program at Arizona State University.

Alyson Mike, New Teacher Center

Alyson Mike is the Director of Online Professional Development for the New Teacher Center. Alyson joined the NTC full time in 2007 with a focus on online communities of practice and supporting beginning teachers in rural areas. Prior to working for the NTC full time, Alyson worked as an online mentor, facilitator and facilitator coordinator in the NTC’s e-Mentoring for Student Success program.

Alyson Mike was a successful National Board Certified middle school science teacher and taught for 20 years. She was selected as Montana's Teacher of the Year in 2004, the Milken Educator in 2003, and was a Presidential Awardee in science in 2002. Alyson has also been actively involved in statewide service in science education.

Alyson recently completed her dissertation examining the professional learning of science teachers participating in a master’s degree program. The program’s blended learning model includes distance learning coursework and laboratory, field and seminar experiences. The study examined the program from three perspectives: recommendations for teachers’ professional learning through professional development, components of a quality graduate program, and a framework for distance learning.

Michael Russo, New Teacher Center

Michael Russo has taught high school science for twelve years in both California public schools and in Latin America. He has a BA in Biology and a Masters in secondary education. As an Outreach Coordinator with the New Teacher Center for the past six years, he has coached and provided professional development for both teachers and mentors.

Maria Rivera Maulucci, Barnard College

Maria S. Rivera Maulucci is an Assistant Professor of Education at Barnard College. She teaches courses in secondary pedagogical methods and science education, including ‘‘Science in the City,’’ a seminar that brings together in-service teachers from New York City public schools, pre-service teachers from the Barnard Education Program, and science majors to develop their science pedagogical and content knowledge and foster student achievement in science. Her research interests include multicultural and critical science pedagogy and social justice teacher education. Recent work focuses on the role of emotions and critical reflection in becoming a social justice teacher. She received her Ph.D. in Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, Master of Forest Science from Yale, and B.A. in Biology from Barnard College. Maria has taught middle level science, mathematics, and technology at De La Salle Academy in New York City and worked as a school science and mathematics staff developer and a district science staff developer in New York City public schools in the Bronx.

Edna Tan, University of North Carolina

Edna Tan is an assistant professor in Science Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her research interests focus on critical, socio-cultural approaches to science education and urban girls' science education. Her research has been published in the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Science Education, and the American Educational Research Journal.