Foothill College and San Francisco State University are to share a $1.1 million Federal Grant

Jeff Schinske in action

Foothill College and San Francisco State University will share a $1.1 million federal grant, for this grant seeks to help highlight scientist with different: ethnic, racial, sexual, and gender identities. This is being spearheaded by Foothill College’s Jeff Schinske, and San Francisco State University’s Kimberly Tanner. The National Institutes of Health grant will help undergraduates at both institutions create “Scientist Spotlights,” or short assignments which are centered on scientist from underrepresented populations. The lessons will teach course concepts, and include personal information regarding the scientist. Schinske stated that, students need to see themselves in a discipline to not only succeed, but learn the material.  Schinske and Tanner are both working on integrating the lessons into SFSU Biology courses. They also have a partnered with instructors from different institutions like middle school, high school, and community college to help evaluate the lessons efficacy in a classroom setting. The lessons will be compiled into an online database, for others around the country to access. Eventually, one can see these lessons being implemented into K-12 classrooms around the Bay Area. As Tanner put it, this collaboration will help change the curriculum which often shows that only certain types of individuals can do science.

Kimberly in action

KEEP DOING THIS WORK!!!!

CampusMemo about Science Education

CampusMemo is a San Francisco State University newsletter for faculty and staff. It is produced weekly during the fall and spring semesters and monthly during the summer. CampusMemo is distributed via email to faculty and staff on Monday. It can be accessed here, https://campusmemo.sfsu.edu/2018/october-1-2018#hof

Four Faculty members honored for Teaching, Service and Professional Achievement… and one of them was Kimberly Tanner

Photo courtesy of SFSU

This award here recognizes faculty excellence and contributions to San Francisco State University (SFSU). This award, has been awarded annually since 2007. It seeks to recognize faculty who go above and beyond in teaching, service and professional achievement.  The Excellence in Teaching Award was awarded to Kimberly Tanner. A tremendous feat for one of our very own. She has been here at SFSU since 2004, and helped found the Science Education Partnership and Assessment Laboratory. She has been very invested in what goes on in classrooms, for she helps shed light on how students learn science, and develops methods to help science be taught better. Kimberly strives to make classrooms more “equitable, fair, and inclusive of students from different backgrounds and perspectives,” This is tied to Kimberly being a first-generation college student.

To look at the other recipients click here

We here at SEPAL want to spread this amazing news, and congratulate our Director.

Keep Doing this Work !

SFSU Alum and SEPAL Alum begins the journey of Medical School

It is always great to hear when other Students/Instructors move onto bigger and better things. This is the case for Chris Canlas. Chris not only was an SFSU Alum, but he once graced the position of SEPAL Resource Center Assistant. Now he embarks on a new path, and that is medical school. He recently started his first week at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in New Jersey. It is one big change for him; both in terms of the environment and being a student once again. However, he is ready!

Image of Chris from his White Coat Ceremony

Chris was very appreciative of his SEPAL family, and relationships he established while working here at SEPAL. The continuous support he received helped him get to where he stands today.

We here at SEPAL want to congratulate Chris on his accomplishment !  Keep doing this work!

SEPAL Alum: Ellen Young’s

One of our very own SEPAL Alums was recently offered an incredible opportunity. Ellen Young who obtained her MS in Biology here at San Francisco State University, received an offer at Cañada College. This a great feat for Ellen, as this role is a Tenure-track Biology position.

Congratulations Ellen, Keep doing this work!

SEPAL Alumna accepts teaching job at Mt. Hood Community College.

Catherine Creech, a SEPAL and SFSU MS alumna has just accepted a tenure-track full-time teaching job at Mt. Hood Community College starting in September 2018. Congratulations Catherine!

Congrats to Camila Alvarez on her research fellowship!

Camila Alvarez, a SFSU Biology student just got accepted as a pre-trainee candidate in the MARC U STAR program at University of California, Riverside. She will be assisting in a research lab this summer. Congratulations Camila!

Monterey Bay Aquarium recruits SEPAL alumna, Brianna McCoy!

Brianna McCoy, a SEPAL and SFSU MS alumna has accepted an amazing and widely coveted position at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as their Volunteer Engagement Program Coordinator, as of July 2^nd. Congratulations Brianna!

Congratulations to Melinda Owens and Kristin deNesnera

Congratulations to Melinda Owens on her new position at UC San Diego and Kristin deNesnera on her new position at Utah Valley University.

SEPAL Alum accepts STEM Program Coordinator Position in Tokyo !

Mia Newman a SFSU Biology Undergrad Alum and SEPAL alum recently accepted a position as a Lead teacher; as well as a STEM Program Coordinator at the KAIS Elementary and Middle Schools in Tokyo. She will essentially be developing, administering, and assessing the schools STEM program and curriculum. This entails collaborating with the administration and colleagues to help accomplish this feat.

Mia Newman

About KAIS:

The primary purpose of the education at KAIS EMS is to help foster a child’s natural inclination toward joy and curiosity. In doing this it helps the children journey to self-discovery and self-fulfillment. The roles of teacher is not to simply tell children how to think or what to think; but to open their eyes to endless possibilities. It is about mentoring the children to enrich their sense of knowledge, mastering essential skills, and development of self.

Mike from KAIS EMS