Name, Position, Affiliation Information

Merryn Cole, Associate Professor

Department of Teaching & Learning

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Main duties in your work

My recent line of research is focused on understanding how college STEM majors (especially chemistry) plan, implement, and reflect on outreach experiences and I continue to examine the role of spatial thinking on understanding of middle school astronomy and chemistry content, particularly in project-based classrooms. I coordinate the doctoral programs in our department, which recently has included about 140 students. I teach courses in science education (undergraduate and graduate) as well as foundational courses for our graduate programs. I also coordinate the science education content area; this includes scheduling courses, coordinating admission decisions for doctoral applicants, monthly meetings, and representing the science education content area within the department.

Recent Accomplishments

For the past three years I have been included in the President’s Circle for Population Education, which recognizes the top volunteers each year. In 2024, I was invited to present a Population Education webinar, highlighting their digital tools, many of which I created or inspired. I also received a citation for outstanding service to the Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity in 2024.

Service to SSMA and other Professional Organizations

I have been attending and presenting at the annual SSMA Convention since 2014, and now bring my own graduate students with me. I have reviewed SSMA conference proposals, proceedings submissions, and journal manuscripts. I currently serve on the Finance Committee.

I have served on the board of directors for the Alpha Chi Sigma, Professional in the Chemical Sciences, co-ed Fraternity since 2019; I currently hold the position of national president. This past summer, I co-chaired a symposium on research on informal chemistry at BCCE. I have also served on the awards committee for the Science Teaching & Learning SIG of AERA and on the strand organizing committee for the 4th Annual Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education. I am a consulting editor for the journal College Teaching and previously was a guest editor for a special edition of Education Sciences. I also review for a variety of journals and conferences.

Your Vision for SSMA

My vision is to identify and magnify our strengths, while adapting to meet the needs of our newest members. As a graduate student, I appreciated how welcoming and friendly the annual convention felt to me. As faculty with my own graduate students, I now appreciate sharing that experience with them. Every graduate student needs different support in order to be successful and SSMA has been a comfortable place for their first foray into the profession.

As we approach the 125th anniversary of SSMA, it is an ideal time to both celebrate the past and look toward the future. It is a time to find creative ways to keep the organization accessible while promoting the organization widely to encourage new membership. We need to identify the value our current members find in the organization while embracing new ideas to attract future members without losing the traditions and history of the past.