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CSEO Staff Page

Faculty, staff members,
and postdoctoral fellows

2024_VU_graduation

Angela Eeds, Ph.D.(She/Her)
Executive Director, CSEO
Ph.D., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Molecular Biology; Biomedical Research and Genetics

Dr. Eeds leads the Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach and oversees the group’s program implementation, collaborations with new and existing partners, and research possibilities. She previously led the CSEO high school programs including theSchool for Science and Math at Vanderbilt, theResearch Experience for High School Students, and theInterdisciplinary Science and Researchprograms. She enjoys participating in each program’s curriculum, especially through leading lessons on molecular biology and scientific thinking as well as mentoring student research projects.
angela.eeds@vanderbilt.edu

(She/Her)
Katherine Johnson Chair in Science Education,
DTL Faculty Director, CSEO
Ph.D., vlogBվ of Colorado, Boulder – Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Carlone works to disrupt narrow meanings of science, engineering, and STEM competence so that more youth and teachers come to see themselves and get recognized by others as science and engineering knowers, doers, and critics. She sheds light on questions about power, the dynamics of inequity, and the significance of teachers’ and learners’ improvisation, creativity, and resilience amidst constraining structures of race, gender, and class. Dr. Carlone provides educational research guidance, mentorship, and support for the postdoctoral fellows and staff members of the CSEO.
heidi.carlone@vanderbilt.edu

Amanda Dixon, M.Ed.(She/Her)
Assistant Director, CSEO
M.Ed., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Organizational Leadership

Amanda recruits students and directs the admissions process for the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt(SSMV). She provides administrative, instructional, and student support to the SSMV. She also provides administrative support to theInterdisciplinary Science and Researchprogram. She facilitates communication, recruitment, and information sharing between the SSMV and Metro Nashville Public Schools. She is also responsible for managing evaluation and data collection for high school programs.
amanda.dixon@vanderbilt.edu

Joe Lopez, Ph.D.
Administrative Officer, CSEO
Ph.D., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Pathology

M.Ed., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Curriculum and Instructional LeadershipDr. Lopez manages the business operations of the CSEO, which includes grants and contracts management, budgetary and personnel records management, and oversight of compliance with university and governmental policies. He also manages the Journal of STEM Outreach. In his previous “work-life” in biomedical science, he studied macrophages and myobacteria in the lab of Dr. Virginia Shepherd.
joe.lopez@vanderbilt.edu

Greta Clinton-Selin (She/Her)
Educational Program Coordinator, CSEO

Ms. Clinton-Selin can be found offering essential support for all instructional staff, administrators, and student participants in CSEO programs. She is an instructor for theDay of Discoveryprogram at the Nashville Zoo. She serves as kit coordinator for theScientist in the Classroom Partnershipprogram and provides supplementary enrichment to high school students with theSchool for Science and Math at Vanderbiltafterschool study skills class.
greta.c.selin@vanderbilt.edu

T. Jacob Marina (He/Him)
Lab Coordinator, Magnolia Makerspace

Mr. Marina manages and oversees theMagnolia Makerspace. He works with the CSEO to incorporate the makerspace and its equipment into curricula and assists students, faculty, and staff in utilizing makerspace equipment in their own projects. Mr. Marina hopes to inspire people to learn about technology that may seem intimidating at first glance and provide people with the opportunity to have a hands-on experience with both common and uncommon machinery.
tyler.j.marina@vanderbilt.edu

Menton M. Deweese, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Director, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt

Ph.D., vlogBվ of Florida – Psychology, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
M.S., vlogBվ of Florida – Psychology Dr. Deweese serves as the director for theSchool for Science and Math at Vanderbilt(SSMV) where she is passionate about teaching, training, and mentoring the next generation of STEM leaders. She remains an active neuroimaging (EEG, fMRI) researcher interested in the neural mechanisms underlying compulsive cue-induced behaviors (e.g., nicotine addiction and obesity), and often weaves this content into her classroom lessons and research projects. Additionally, Dr. Deweese coordinates the Professional Development efforts for CSEO Postdoctoral Fellows and manages the SSMV social media accounts.
menton.deweese@vanderbilt.edu

Rebekah Stanton, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt
Ph.D, Brigham Young vlogBվ – Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation

Dr. Stanton is a researcher in the Earth and Environmental Sciences department and also an Instructor at theSchool for Science and Math at Vanderbilt, where she has the opportunity to share her passion for ecology and earth science with the rising generation. Coming from a marine biology anddesert ecology background, Dr. Stanton has a great love for the ocean and all things relating to plants and wildlife in extreme climates, as well as a passion for education and helping others understand the super cool processes in nature through effective research and learning methods.
rebekah.stanton@vanderbilt.edu

Pamela J. Osborn Popp, Ph.D.(She/Her)
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt
Ph.D, New York vlogBվ – Neuroscience

Dr. Popp is an instructor at theSchool for Science and Math at Vanderbilt. Her research focuses on the cognitive and computational mechanisms that underlie learning and teaching behaviors, and she is passionate about making teaching effective and fun for students. She is interested in game development, AI, and understanding what makes humans so unique compared to intelligent machines.
pamela.popp@vanderbilt.edu

Shakeera L. Walker, Ph.D.(She/Her/Hers)
Instructor, School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt
Ph.D., Ohio State vlogBվ – Neuroscience,
M.S., vlogBվ of Maryland – Neuroscience and Cognitive Science

Dr. Shakeera Walker is an instructor for theSchool for Science and Math at Vanderbilt. Her research background focuses on investigating the impact of early-life stress on neuroimmune function, social behaviors, and anxiety using rodent models. She is excited to help make science more accessible and fun for young learners and to introduce students to translational neuroscience—research that helps us better understand the biological basis of behavior.
shakeera.walker@vanderbilt.Edu

Nathaniel Freymeyer, Ph.D. (He/Him)
Program Manager, STEM Student Research
Ph.D., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Chemistry

Dr. Freymeyer is the program manager for STEM Student Research. In this roll, he helps to support students conducting research projects by connecting them with mentors and facilitating participation in scientific research competitions. He was previously a co-teacher for theInterdisciplinary Science and Researchprogram at John Overton High School. He uses his background in chemistry and nanoscience to help students develop critical thinking skills to solve challenging problems. He hopes to inspire students to pursue a career in the sciences and to help develop a new generation of scientists.
n.freymeyer@vanderbilt.edu

Nicolas Means, Ph.D.(He/Him)
Instructor, Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program
Ph.D., The vlogBվ of Oklahoma – Health Sciences Center

Dr. Means is an instructor and co-teacher for theSchool for Science and Math at Vanderbiltand theInterdisciplinary Science and Researchprogram at Hillsboro High School, respectively. In addition, he serves as the Director for theand Assistant Director for theSummer High School Internships in Research Experiences. Guided by his training in cancer biology, Dr. Means is driven to expand student opportunity and interest in STEM fields of study, with an emphasis on biomedical research. He hopes to use the CSEO program model for future collaborative initiatives in the midwestern U.S.
nicolas.means@vanderbilt.edu

Natalie Wallace, Ph.D.(She/Her)
Instructor, Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program
Ph.D., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Biological Sciences

Dr. Wallace is a co-teacher for theInterdisciplinary Science and Researchprogram. Her research background spans the fields of neuroscience, cell biology, and biochemistry to understand molecular mechanisms of rare diseases. She is passionate about improving science literacy by connecting STEM knowledge and pop culture. Dr. Wallace hopes to expand students’ knowledge of diverse STEM fields and career pathways.
natalie.wallace@vanderbilt.edu

Jennifer Jackson, Ph.D.(She/Her)
Instructor, Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State vlogBվ – Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Jackson is a co-teacher for theInterdisciplinary Science and ResearchProgram at John Overton High School. She brings 20 years of experience in education, including teaching middle school science and higher education. As a teacher educator and an AACTE Holmes scholar, Dr. Jackson’s research focuses on how secondary science teachers communicate within professional learning spaces as they conceptualize and make sense of persistent equity issues relative to science education.
jennifer.jackson.2@vanderbilt.edu

Desmond L. Campbell, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Program Manager of Middle School Initiatives
Ph.D., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Physics, Imaging Science
M.A., Fisk vlogBվ – Physics, Material Science

Dr. Campbell, also known as Dr. Des, serves as the program manager for several of the CSEO’s middle school efforts, including theDay of DiscoveryandScientist in the Classroom Partnershipprograms. What inspires Dr. Campbell is how the language and art of mathematics dictates so much about how nature operates. Assisting students in understanding that art and its connections to nature drives him.
desmond.l.campbell@vanderbilt.edu

Yelena Janumyan, Ph.D.
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
Ph.D., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Cancer Biology

Dr. Janumyan has spent her research career studying the cell cycle function of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2. For the last 15+ years, Dr. Janumyan has worked in a middle school classroom to engage students in interdisciplinary STEM projects that help them to grow into independent thinkers, lifelong learners, and compassionate people. She is passionate about making STEM literacy accessible and creates curriculum forDay of Discoverythat allows students to learn topics and master skills beyond those that they would access in middle school.
yelena.j.doe@vanderbilt.edu

Bethany Daniel, Ph.D.(She/Her)
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
Ph.D., Vanderbilt vlogBվ – Learning, Teaching, and Diversity
M.A., Brigham Young vlogBվ – Second Language Teaching

Dr. Daniel is a co-teacher for the VanderbiltDay of Discoveryprogram. A licensed elementary and PreK-12 French teacher, Dr. Daniel is passionate about designing learning experiences that center students’ expertise and celebrate their cultural and linguistic practices. Her research focuses on helping STEM educators unlearn mainstream norms that exclude students to create classrooms of belonging.
bethany.r.daniel@vanderbilt.edu

Amanda V. Garner, Ph.D.
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
PhD, vlogBվ of Tennessee -Science Education
M.A., Tusculum vlogBվ- Curriculum and Instruction

Dr. Garner isDay of Discoveryinstructor with Vanderbilt’s Collaborative for STEM Education and Outreach, teaching at the Nashville Zoo and Isaac Litton Middle School. As a licensed K–8 science teacher, with experience in teaching middle grades science and in designing place-based professional learning, helping teachers connect classrooms with their communities. Her research centers on place-based education, data literacy in K–12 science, and arts-based approaches that connect creativity with science learning. An Appalachian scholar, Dr. Garner draws on her roots to highlight the value of local community knowledge and resources, making science more accessible, relevant, and engaging for all students.
amanda.garner@vanderbilt.edu

Kate Davis, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Instructor, Day of Discovery Program
Ph.D., vlogBվ of Florida – Zoology
M.S., Auburn vlogBվ – Ethology

Dr. K has over 10 years experience in informal education and thinks zoos and the natural world are the ultimate biology classrooms. She is currently an instructor for theDay of Discoveryprogram at the Nashville Zoo and believes in engaging student interest in STEM through a zoology-focused approach.
katherine.davis@vanderbilt.edu