B.A. in Chemistry Education with a Minor in Biology and East Asian Studies from the University of Delaware
Doctorate in Learning Sciences from the University of Delaware
Why does Andrea love teaching at Rider?
What really excites Andrea about Rider is that it presents not only an opportunity for her to expand her research pursuits but it’s also a place that is exceptionally dedicated to quality teaching. Rider offers a fantastic balance between improving faculty's educational craft and their understanding of teaching and learning, while at the same time truly being focused on meaningful, effective, and long-lasting outcomes for students.
I always loved the problem-solving approach that we take in science, and how we can try to satisfy our curiosity about nature and the world around us.”
Assistant Professor in Rider’s Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling
Andrea’s focus on climate change
Andrea first became involved with climate change education research when she was a graduate student at the University of Delaware, where she earned a doctorate in learning sciences and wrote her dissertation on climate change teaching experiences.
For her recent book, Teaching Climate Change in the United States, she says, “Our goal was to explore how climate change education looks in very disparate parts of our country due to factors such as differences in our state-based educational systems, the standards that are taught, teachers’ instructional goals and the political context of climate change.”
Educating educators
Andrea felt called to educate educators about climate change. She took a position as coordinator of teacher professional development with the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, the organization that manages the Bronx Zoo. She also became involved with a National Science Foundation grant program called MADE CLEAR (Maryland and Delaware Climate Change Education, Assessment, and Research), through which she helped to design and implement climate change professional development for teachers to assist them with integrating this scientifically and socially complex topic into their science curriculum.
She currently teaches climate change courses in Rider’s post-baccalaureate teaching program and in the Endeavor STEM program, part of Rider’s master’s in teacher leadership program.
New Jersey is the first state in the nation to take such a wide view on where we should be talking about climate change in the classroom, and that’s really exciting.”
Assistant Professor in Rider’s Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling
Spreading her knowledge to high school students and beyond
Andrea is committed to empowering youth through climate summits. Andrea is encouraged to see New Jersey taking the lead in this area.
Andrea recently launched a month-long climate change education event with Sustainable Jersey, New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy's Drumthwacket Foundation and Atlantic City Electric as partners. The event, the New Jersey Student Climate Challenge, features a number of student climate sessions and personal development sessions for teachers.
The climate challenge is a pilot program to highlight the role youth can play in addressing the climate change crisis.