Marcelle A. Siegel

About Marcelle


Marcelle Siegel is Professor of Science Education at the University of Missouri. She is jointly appointed in the Department of Learning, Teaching & Curriculum and the Department of Biochemistry. Her background in education includes several years in curriculum development for national reforms, professional development in urban and rural schools, and a focus on understanding and improving assessment practices in science classrooms. Continuously funded, Dr. Siegel currently serves as Principal Investigator of THRIVE an Inclusive Excellence initiative of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Co-PI of Wipro Teacher Fellows, and has led National Science Foundation and Dreyfus Foundation projects to develop innovative assessments for the secondary and undergraduate levels.

Dr. Siegel’s research focuses on a key obstacle and point of leverage for enhancing learning and teaching--assessment. Specifically, her research program is organized along three strands:

1. Designing effective and equitable assessments,

2. Assessing learning and decision making, and

3. Investigating and supporting teachers’ assessment practices.

She has more than 70 publications, including 33 peer-reviewed articles and 8 book chapters. Several of these are co-authored with teachers, and she serves the teaching profession through partnerships with schools locally and nationally. She teaches classes on assessment research, science education research, secondary science teaching, biotechnology, and the scholarship of teaching for future science faculty.





Current Projects

The University of Missouri will transform instructional, institutional, and undergraduate experiences for new majority students across the natural sciences through intensive community building, deconstructing, and partnering efforts. The vision is to disrupt current practices, attitudes, and structural barriers and create a campus environment in which students truly thrive. We aim to develop a culture of inclusive excellence, meaning the practice of extending a quality education to all students, the culture of welcoming students to belong in academic communities, and the act of empowering participants in the practice of science.

Co-PIs: Terrell Morton, Charlie Nilon, Johannes Schul, Jim Spain

Funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Inclusive Excellence program, $1,000,000

This new project through the University of Massachusetts, Boston focuses on vertical and horizontal K-12 science integration, professional development, and teacher leadership in central Missouri.

PI: Meera Chandrasekhar

Co-PIs: Karen King, Dorina Kostzin, Marcelle Siegel

Funded by the WiPro Foundation, $1,100,001

For over ten years, Marcelle has led The Sandra K. Abell Conversations about College Science Teaching on a volunteer basis. Conversations are monthly discussions to enhance teaching capacity of faculty, graduate students, and postdocs and support a thriving instructional community on campus. The meetings are interdisciplinary across natural and physical sciences, science and mathematics education, engineering, and professional schools at the University of Missouri. For more than 15 years, the conversations have provided college science teachers with time and space to reflect on their own teaching challenges and learn new teaching methods from their peers. The informal environment with free pizza fosters community and collaboration.

Funded by: HHMI Thrive Project, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, College of Education, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Division of Biological Sciences Office of Undergraduate Studies, MU Science Education Center (Past Sponsor/Founder)

Group News


  • Welcome to Dr. Yejun Bae, new THRIVE Postdoc, and Dr. Courtney Ngai, new THRIVE consultant.

  • Congrats to Dr. Shannon Burcks on completing her dissertation on sociomateriality!

  • Congratulations to Dr Terrell Morton for being selected for the NSF CADRE Postdoc Professional Growth Opportunity.

  • Congrats to Julie Birt on her Excellence in Teaching with Technology campus-wide award!

  • Nilay Muslu completed her dissertation on formative assessment. Congrats, Dr Muslu!

  • Congrats to Mojtaba Khajeloo, a new member of the Student Advisory Committee for The Bridge, the College of Education's Diversity Engagement Program.

  • Welcome to Dr Terrell Morton, new PFF Postdoc for Faculty Diversity!

  • Sci-Lift developed a new module, called Insect food court: GMOs and feeding patterns, this summer.

  • Congrats to Dr. Chris Murakami on his tenure-track position at Chatham University.

  • Enhancing undergrad STEM education and inclusive teaching: prestigious AAU grant at MU.

  • Siegel is recognized as a Top Faculty Achiever at MU.

  • Invited research presentation at National Association of Biology Teachers conference: 11/16

  • Invited webinar on assessment for National Science Teachers Association: 3/16

  • Siegel gives keynote on assessment literacy at NÄD (national education conference) in Gothenburg, Sweden

  • Abell Conversations about College Science Teaching is featured on AAU’s STEM initiative site

  • NSTA recognition, “Research Worth Reading,” for Gottheiner & Siegel’s paper in JSTE

  • Siegel gives invited research presentation at National Association of Biology Teachers conference: 11/16





Education


  • Ph.D. University of California at Berkeley - 1999

    • Graduate Group in Science and Mathematics Education (SESAME)

  • M.A. University of California at Berkeley - 1995

    • Integrative Biology

  • B.A. Haverford College - 1992

    • Biology (Concentration in Neural and Behavioral Sciences)

Experience


  • Science and Health Education Partnership, University of California at San Francisco, 2004-2006.

  • Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley, 2001-2004.

  • National Institute for Science Education, Secondary Teacher Education Project Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wisconsin at Madison, 1999-2001.

Selected Awards and Honors


  • Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, One faculty member from each higher education institution is selected for state-wide recognition per year, Missouri, 2019

  • Dean's Leadership Fellow, College of Education, University of Missouri, 2018-2019

  • Alumnae Anniversary Award, Recognizes women faculty for their teaching excellence or contributions to the education of women, University of Missouri, 2019

  • Research in Biology Education Award, National Association of Biology Teachers, 2016

  • Graduate Instructor of the Year, University of Missouri, College of Education, 2014-2015

  • Isabelle Lyda Professor, University of Missouri, College of Education, 2009-2011

  • Nominee, Presidential Faculty Award for Excellence, Early Career Award, University of Missouri System, 2011

  • Nominee, Mizzou Inclusive Excellence Award, University of Missouri, 2010

  • National Institute for Science Education Fellow, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1999-2001

  • National Science Foundation's Reforming Education through Science and Design Traineeship Program, Fellowship, University of California, Berkeley, 1998-1999











Contact


University of Missouri

Columbia, MO 65211