DARTMOUTH – Officials at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth appointed Chandra Orrill, associate professor of mathematics education, as director of the Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education, according to a mid-July release from the state university.
“If a student cannot pass calculus, there are very few options for them in STEM careers. If a student can’t pass algebra, they are often completely locked out of college. Democratizing access to math and science is, at its core, a civil rights issue for the 21st century,” said Orrill in a statement.
Orrill received her Ph.D. in instructional system technology from Indiana University and previously served as an assistant professor of education technology at Ohio University as well as holding varied adjunct positions in the University of Georgia’s Learning and Performance Support Laboratory.
In January 2010, Orrill joined the faculty at UMass Dartmouth and helped launch its Ph.D. mathematics program. For the past four years she has chaired the STEM education and teacher development department, focusing her research on how teachers understand the mathematics they teach – she has been a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on 28 grants totaling over $6 million.
UMass Dartmouth’s Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education was established in 2007 in the name of James J. Kaput, whose innovative thinking and leadership inspired many in the field of mathematics education. Center projects use innovative technology, unique course structures and a variety of outreach approaches to reach the widest possible audience and engage them in STEM content in new ways.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a PBN staff writer. Email her at Gowdey-Backus@PBN.com, or you can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey.
