Principal Investigator | Bryan M. Dewsbury, PhD
I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, and pursued a Bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College, and a Masters and PhD from Florida International University (FIU). At FIU I explored a number of interesting questions in marine ecology and ecological economics and I developed a number of teaching approaches and programs relating to social belonging and higher education. I am personally inspired by the possibilities
of education as a force for intellectual liberation, and as a means to increase critical consumerism. In between, I am always trying to find time to keep up with my never ending reading list, try new microbrews, and teach myself and my wife Kizomba!
bdewsbur@fiu.edu | 401 874 2248 | @bmdewsbury
I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, and pursued a Bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College, and a Masters and PhD from Florida International University (FIU). At FIU I explored a number of interesting questions in marine ecology and ecological economics and I developed a number of teaching approaches and programs relating to social belonging and higher education. I am personally inspired by the possibilities
of education as a force for intellectual liberation, and as a means to increase critical consumerism. In between, I am always trying to find time to keep up with my never ending reading list, try new microbrews, and teach myself and my wife Kizomba!
bdewsbur@fiu.edu | 401 874 2248 | @bmdewsbury
Masters Student | Asta Habtemichael
Born and raised in the horn of Africa region, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree at the College of Marine Science and Technology (COMSAT) in Eritrea. At COMSAT I explored a number of interesting research questions in marine science and environmental chemistry as a student and later as graduate faculty fellow. In the years that I had taught college level classes I developed a number of teaching approaches and programs focused on empowering disadvantaged students. Connecting science and community is what interests me most. Thus, in conjunction with my career in marine science as a researcher/lecturer I have been involved in science outreach and community engagement activities. This experience lead to my graduate study, Masters of Marine Affairs at URI. I am personally motivated in promoting science education and using it as a vehicle of change in marginalized communities. Thus, my decision to join the SEAS lab for my PhD study. My work in SEAS program will generally focus on community empowerment and science communication.
ahabtemichael@uri.edu
Born and raised in the horn of Africa region, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree at the College of Marine Science and Technology (COMSAT) in Eritrea. At COMSAT I explored a number of interesting research questions in marine science and environmental chemistry as a student and later as graduate faculty fellow. In the years that I had taught college level classes I developed a number of teaching approaches and programs focused on empowering disadvantaged students. Connecting science and community is what interests me most. Thus, in conjunction with my career in marine science as a researcher/lecturer I have been involved in science outreach and community engagement activities. This experience lead to my graduate study, Masters of Marine Affairs at URI. I am personally motivated in promoting science education and using it as a vehicle of change in marginalized communities. Thus, my decision to join the SEAS lab for my PhD study. My work in SEAS program will generally focus on community empowerment and science communication.
ahabtemichael@uri.edu
PhD Student | Mehri Azizi
Doing my Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, I am specifically interested in promoting diversity, inclusion, and sense of belonging in science education for both students and teachers. I am motivated to work with self-regulated theories along with the role of meta-cognitive learning to study the first-year biology students. I believe the findings are generalizable to many other environments including corporations and institutions.
maziz010@fiu.edu
Doing my Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, I am specifically interested in promoting diversity, inclusion, and sense of belonging in science education for both students and teachers. I am motivated to work with self-regulated theories along with the role of meta-cognitive learning to study the first-year biology students. I believe the findings are generalizable to many other environments including corporations and institutions.
maziz010@fiu.edu
Masters Student | Samrawit Kebreab Tekie
Biology Education research allows me to pursue a rewarding career of direct service to others through Education. I joined the SEAS lab to understand how Biology education motivates inclusion and engages more underrepresented students in STEM education. Being part of the team has allowed me to view educators' and learning facilitators' impact on students' academic experience. My research will also focus on the relationship/prediction between science identity, Academic motivation and Academic performance.
skebr001@fiu.edu
Biology Education research allows me to pursue a rewarding career of direct service to others through Education. I joined the SEAS lab to understand how Biology education motivates inclusion and engages more underrepresented students in STEM education. Being part of the team has allowed me to view educators' and learning facilitators' impact on students' academic experience. My research will also focus on the relationship/prediction between science identity, Academic motivation and Academic performance.
skebr001@fiu.edu
PhD Student | Nicole Chlebek
I am a first-year PhD student at FIU. I have a background in higher education, sociology, and ecology. I've had a range of research opportunities in my life that led me to biology education research. I studied the human-elephant conflict near the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. I worked as a research intern to genetically modify higher nutrient rice varieties at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. I researched gender bias in college study abroad rates. I also had a career managing regional admissions for my alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU), where I developed educational series for students from marginalized populations. I later started the first DEI task force in our office, where I created a workshop and trained other faculty and staff to host discussions about white privilege. I also volunteered in Dr. Lisa Corwin’s biology education research REACH lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, which is how I discovered the SEAS lab and came to FIU. I now work with FIU's Center for Humanities in an Urban Environment (CHUE) to develop accessible and publicly available social equity workshop curriculum. I am also working on a project concerning public discourse on the introduction of transgenic mosquitoes in the Florida Keys. My goal with my dissertation involves implementing inclusive curriculum interventions specified for undergraduate life science courses to positively affect student sense of belonging and overall social awareness. Outside of research, you'll find me painting, exercising, enjoying water activities, or travelling to my other two homes (Denver and Chicago) skiing, backpacking and spending time with family and friends over craft beers.
nchlebek@fiu.edu
I am a first-year PhD student at FIU. I have a background in higher education, sociology, and ecology. I've had a range of research opportunities in my life that led me to biology education research. I studied the human-elephant conflict near the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. I worked as a research intern to genetically modify higher nutrient rice varieties at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. I researched gender bias in college study abroad rates. I also had a career managing regional admissions for my alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU), where I developed educational series for students from marginalized populations. I later started the first DEI task force in our office, where I created a workshop and trained other faculty and staff to host discussions about white privilege. I also volunteered in Dr. Lisa Corwin’s biology education research REACH lab at the University of Colorado Boulder, which is how I discovered the SEAS lab and came to FIU. I now work with FIU's Center for Humanities in an Urban Environment (CHUE) to develop accessible and publicly available social equity workshop curriculum. I am also working on a project concerning public discourse on the introduction of transgenic mosquitoes in the Florida Keys. My goal with my dissertation involves implementing inclusive curriculum interventions specified for undergraduate life science courses to positively affect student sense of belonging and overall social awareness. Outside of research, you'll find me painting, exercising, enjoying water activities, or travelling to my other two homes (Denver and Chicago) skiing, backpacking and spending time with family and friends over craft beers.
nchlebek@fiu.edu
PhD Student | Alexander Eden
I am a first-year Ph.D. student interested in STEM and Biology education. More specifically, I am interested in the transition between high school and college. I have had several experiences in the world of education, and most recently taught High School Biology in an urban school district in Massachusetts. During my time teaching, I was not only able to have fun and create a safe environment for my students, but I also received several honors along the way. Teaching reinforced my passion for making a difference, and further cemented by desire to pursue a PhD. Ultimately, I hope to do what I can to reduce the challenges that students may face in the pursuit of higher education. When I am not busy learning, I enjoy traveling (have visited 34 states), watching movies, and simply going out to have fun. I am a strong believes in the power of positivity and good vibes, and always make it a mission to spread smiles. To the person reading this, what is something good that has happened to you recently?
aeden005@fiu.edu | www.alexandereden.net
I am a first-year Ph.D. student interested in STEM and Biology education. More specifically, I am interested in the transition between high school and college. I have had several experiences in the world of education, and most recently taught High School Biology in an urban school district in Massachusetts. During my time teaching, I was not only able to have fun and create a safe environment for my students, but I also received several honors along the way. Teaching reinforced my passion for making a difference, and further cemented by desire to pursue a PhD. Ultimately, I hope to do what I can to reduce the challenges that students may face in the pursuit of higher education. When I am not busy learning, I enjoy traveling (have visited 34 states), watching movies, and simply going out to have fun. I am a strong believes in the power of positivity and good vibes, and always make it a mission to spread smiles. To the person reading this, what is something good that has happened to you recently?
aeden005@fiu.edu | www.alexandereden.net
PhD Student | Michael Winegar
I am a PhD student at FIU interested in STEM teaching and biological research. I have gained a love of the sciences during my time and experiences as an undergraduate and as a master’s degree student. My focus is on learning and teaching STEM and biology at the undergraduate level for students with disabilities (SWD) in their pursuit of a STEM career and postsecondary education. I joined the SEAS program to not only increase my understanding and skills in teaching, but to spread awareness and enhance inclusion for all students to have equal opportunities of success both in the classroom and in their life goals. Outside of the university settings, I love to spend time with my family, go on adventures, and visit the great outdoors.
mwine005@fiu.edu
I am a PhD student at FIU interested in STEM teaching and biological research. I have gained a love of the sciences during my time and experiences as an undergraduate and as a master’s degree student. My focus is on learning and teaching STEM and biology at the undergraduate level for students with disabilities (SWD) in their pursuit of a STEM career and postsecondary education. I joined the SEAS program to not only increase my understanding and skills in teaching, but to spread awareness and enhance inclusion for all students to have equal opportunities of success both in the classroom and in their life goals. Outside of the university settings, I love to spend time with my family, go on adventures, and visit the great outdoors.
mwine005@fiu.edu