Directors
CESaME Director
Susan Elrod, Ph. D.
(805) 756-2875
selrod@calpoly.edu
Building 52, Room E14
Dr. Susan Elrod holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of California , Davis (1995) and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from California State University , Chico (1986). After completing her Ph.D., she carried out postdoctoral research at Novozymes Biotech, Inc. in Davis , CA where she received several patents for her work on the enhancement of protein production using genetic techniques. Since joining the faculty at Cal Poly in 1997 she has taught extensively, conduced research and held several leadership positions.
Elrod currently serves as Director of Cal Poly's Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME) and is a PI on the California STEM Innovation Network (CSI-N) Initiative, the CCST's Elementary School Teacher Science Education study, and Project Kaleidoscope's Facilitiating Interdisciplinary STEM Education initiative. Throughout her career, Dr. Elrod has established an extensive record of leadership and service. As an undergraduate student at Chico State she was Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) President. Then at Cal Poly, she has served as Associate Chair of the Biological Sciences Department, Chair of the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee, Special Assistant to the Provost, and Assistant Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning where she has also been a workshop facilitator since 2001.
Dr. Elrod has a strong commitment to science education both as an instructor and science education researcher. As a Professor in the Biological Sciences Department she has taught courses in microbiology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, and genetics. She has co-authored a Genetics textbook and is currently writing a new textbook that is based on a novel inquiry-based genetics teaching strategy. She has a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant entitled "Literature-Based Scientific Learning in Genetics" that will support research regarding the impact of this new approach on undergraduate learning in genetics.
Dr. Elrod attended the Harvard Institute for Higher Education in 2004 and is a Project Kaleidoscope F21 faculty member. During 2006-7, she completed an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship at The Colorado College where she studied critical leadership issues regarding integrative models of undergraduate education and STEM education reform. Email Dr. Elrod at selrod@calpoly.edu .
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Biology Department Homepage
Assistant CESaME Director
Bob Cichowski, Ph. D.
(805) 756-2859
rcichows@calpoly.edu
Building 52, Room E15
Bob Cichowski, Ph.D. has been a faculty member of Cal Poly State University for 35 years and is currently Assistant Director of the University Center for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (CESaME). The Center is dedicated to insuring that teachers, future teachers, and all K-12 students are scientifically and mathematically literate citizens. He is a long time member of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (Purdue University) and a Ph. D. in Ceramic Science (Alfred University).
Cichowski has recently served as Associate Director of Teacher Education and Public School Programs at the California State University Office of the Chancellor. He has been Chair of the Cal Poly's Liberal Study Department, the department housing the major taken by future elementary school teachers. He has been director of the Cal Poly site of the California Science Project, a state-wide summer teacher professional development program. He and his students have received four National Science Teachers Association awards for tying children's literature to science. With colleagues he shared a Christa McAulliff Excellence in Education Award for a teacher preparation program called S.E.E.D.S. (Science Enrichment and Educational Demonstration School). He has received Cal Poly's Distinguished Teacher Award. He started his career as a research chemist for Philips Petroleum Company and holds 12 patents.
STAR Program Director
John Keller, Ph. D.
(805) 756-2095
jmkeller@calpoly.edu
Building 25, Room 221
is an assistant professor in the Physics Department at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. After obtaining a BS in Biology and an MA in Education from Stanford University, Dr. Keller taught high school science at Los Altos High School in the Bay Area for five years. He then completed an MS in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado before working as a program coordinator at an astronomy education center for middle school students in Idyllwild, California. Finally, Dr. Keller completed his PhD in Planetary Science at the University of Arizona where he worked for the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission. His dissertation work involved the development of a concept inventory instrument to uncover student misconceptions regarding the greenhouse effect. Dr. Keller focuses his efforts at Cal Poly on astronomy education research and recruitment, preparation, and retention of secondary science teachers. He co-directs both the Science Teacher and Researcher (STAR) program and the Cal Poly Science Noyce Scholars Program.
Learn By Doing Lab Program Director
Seth Bush, Ph. D.
(805) 756-2746
sbush@calpoly.edu
Building 25, Room 127
Seth Bush is an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry Department at Cal Poly specializing in Chemical Education. He is also a CESaME faculty member and one of the K-12 science content educators who teach and participate in science teacher education and credential programs at Cal Poly. Dr. Bush has a B.S. in Chemistry from Reed College and a Ph. D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. During 2008, Dr. Bush was the faculty liaison for the STAR pilot program at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and continued as a Cal Poly faculty liaison during the 2008 implementation of this program. In this role, he collaborated on an ongoing basis with LLNL and other CSU campuses, particularly those in the Bay Area, in planning, recruitment, student selection, placement and housing. He also contributed significantly with post-internship follow-up, continuing regular communications with the participants and assisting to implement the matched-pair comparison evaluation design. In addition, Dr. Bush is the Co-Director of Central Coast Science Project, which is part of a statewide program providing teacher professional development in the teaching of science, and he is a Co-PI for the Teacher Retention Initiative, sponsored by the California postsecondary Education Commission, which is establishing a professional learning community for in-service science teachers in the Santa Maria-Bonita school district.