Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas
Monday, July 14, 2025
9-3 PM CST
Sul Ross State University Museum of Big Bend
Lunch is provided!
Dr. William H. Robertson is an endowed Professor with academic areas of expertise are in science education, curriculum development and technology integration in the K-12 levels. Additionally, he develops, research and teach materials related to inquiry-based STEM Education, project-based learning, problem-based learning, and action science. Since 2021, he has been appointed as a Distinguished Research Fellow with the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, which is part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Dr. Robertson was the Dean of the College of Health Sciences from 2021 to 2024 and has served in administrative roles including Interim Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Education, Associate Provost, co-Chair of the Teacher Education Department and Director of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Division. Dr. Robertson has received several prestigious awards including the UT Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award, as a Fulbright Scholar in Santiago, Chile, and the President’s Meritorious Service Award. Before coming to UTEP, Dr. Robertson was an employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and was a middle school and high school teacher as well. A long-time participant and performer in skateboarding with over 40 years in the sport, Dr. Robertson has developed Dr. Skateboard's Action Science (http://www.drskateboard.com), which addresses physical science concepts for middle school students utilizing skateboarding and bicycle motocross (BMX).
Stephen Hummel is the Dark Skies Initiative Coordinator for McDonald Observatory. Stephen works with communities, businesses, local governments, and other organizations in far West Texas to preserve the night sky through better lighting practices. Stephen is committee chair for the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest area in the world certified by DarkSky International. In his spare time, Stephen is an avid photographer of the night sky and has been featured by National Geographic, BBC, NASA, and more. The Big Bend region is famous for its star-filled dark night skies, but globally dark skies are vanishing at a rapid pace as light pollution grows. Through thousands of citizen science observations, the Globe at Night campaign revealed that light pollution grew at an average global rate of ten percent per year between 2011 and 2022, far faster than previously anticipated. Citizen science efforts to document changes in the night sky are a powerful tool for all grades and skill levels, creating both educational and scientific opportunities. This presentation will discuss local efforts to document and address light pollution, combining volunteer efforts with professional efforts.
Engaging students of all majors with real and local geoscientific data: Lessons from the Big Bend
Dr. Jesse Kelsch is an Assistant Professor in the Geology program at Sul Ross State University. Her primary field of research within the Earth Sciences is structural geology, or the record of deformation left in rocks of Earth’s crust by plate-tectonic forces. Her secondary field is geoscience education research. Dr. Kelsch is committed to improving insight, engagement, and long-term learning among students of all majors in her geology classes, such that not only do Sul Ross geology graduates excel in rewarding Earth-science careers, but also that graduates in all fields are well versed in the data, the problems, and the techniques of geoscience and can thus be part of a well-informed citizenry participating in environmental problem-solving.
I’m Yuli, I am a first year Noyce scholar who loves math and cannot wait to start teaching. I've enjoyed my first year in the Noyce Program which has provided me with amazing opportunities, and I've learned so much. I can't wait to further my academic success and continue to thrive. ~ Yulissa Fuentes
I'm a mathematics major with a focus in education, currently finishing up my first year as a Noyce Scholar and heading into my second. I'm deeply dedicated to math—not just understanding it, but helping others find confidence and clarity in it too. Teaching is something I'm genuinely excited about, and I'm passionate about making math more accessible, engaging, and meaningful for every student I work with. ~ Adrian Estrada
Cody is a PhD candidate at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where his research focuses on laboratory studies of materials analogous to stardust. His work aims to bridge laboratory research and observational astronomy to better understand the types of dust that may exist around asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. As a first-generation Diné (Navajo) astrophysicist, Cody is committed to raising awareness of Indigenous perspectives in astronomy and fostering understanding across communities. Currently, Cody is working with NASA SCoPE to support professional development for instructors on and around the Navajo Nation by providing resources for use in the classroom.
Meara McMains, LPC. & Ph.D. Candidate, Sul Ross State University, Education
Meara has a bachelor’s in Education, EC-6 from the University of Texas at San Antonio, as well as a Montessori certification. She spent 18 years in the classroom, primarily early childhood, before changing directions, obtaining a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Texas A&M San Antonio. She is currently completing her PhD at Saybrook University in Counselor Education and Supervision. Her area of interest for research is rehabilitation efforts with incarcerated populations. Outside of academic pursuits, Meara is also a registered yoga teacher and highly interested in all things wellness.
RICHARD W. MORRIS, MSE, PHD.
Dr. Richard W. Morris is a classroom teacher, engineer, and ethnographer. Presently he teaches Physics at Champion High School in Boerne, Texas. There he works to advance classroom instruction for science literacy with special interest in disadvantaged, displaced, and neurodiverse learners. Over the course of his career, Dr. Morris has taught and conducted educational research in public schools, universities, national laboratories (domestic and foreign), and various non-school settings. Dr. Morris’ current work integrates ethnographic research findings with proven instructional methods for enhanced learning outcomes. His preliminary findings suggest that certain instructional methods – such as “project-based learning” in the STEM fields – can increase student engagement and promote critical thinking while yielding measurable proficiency in the core sciences, i.e., biology, chemistry, and physics. Dr. Morris holds degrees in behavioral science (PhD/Rice) and systems engineering (MSE/Penn-Wharton). He has worked as an manager, educator, and/or trainer in a wide array of settings, both domestic and foreign. He is an American Leadership Fellow of the Robert Bosch Foundation and recipient of the Secretary’s Award of the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Morris speaks German, Indonesian, and Spanish.
Commentators
Sean Bruna, Ph.D., Medical University of South Carolina (sean@seanbruna.com);
Conan N. Louis, Esq. CNL Solutions (cnl@cnlsolutions.org);
Jeanne Qvarnstrom, Ed.D., Sul Ross State University, (jqvarnstrom@sulross.edu;
Yunus Doğan Telliel, Ph.D. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (ydtelliel@wpi.edu);
Jonathan Morris, Fulbright Scholar, University of Wisconsin (jmorris28@wisc.edu);
Mandy Zheng, Savannah College of Art and Design.
Kathy Pastora
Kathy Pastora is an Education Specialist at the Science Mill in Johnson City, TX, where she teaches and develops STEM curriculum. With a strong foundation in language, literacy, and entrepreneurship, Kathy brings a wealth of experience from her years serving Title I schools, specializing in Bilingual and ESL education. Her career has been driven by a passion for fostering a love of reading and writing, and she is committed to inspiring curiosity, creativity, and confidence in learners of all ages. Kathy holds a B.A. in Spanish Literature and Latin American Studies from the University at Albany, NY, and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction.