Jeff Weld Named to National STEM Advisory Board
(CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - January 31, 2012) – Dr. Jeff Weld, director of the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) and executive director of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Triangle Coalition appointed Weld to join 23 other national leaders from government, business and education who are dedicated to improving the quality and outcome of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
Iowa’s rapid progress toward STEM education solutions in teacher recruitment, student post-secondary preparedness, public-private partnerships and public awareness is a valuable backdrop for contributing to the national conversation in STEM led by the Triangle Coalition.
“Serving national organizations is always mutually beneficial and this appointment will be particularly so,” said Weld. “Coalition members and the national groups served by the Coalition will find Iowa’s experience informative, and I can surely bring the collective insights of the Board leadership back to Iowa as well, informing our work moving forward.”
Founded in 1985, the Triangle Coalition is considered to be a national leader for STEM education, and advocates for the improvement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the United States. The name “Triangle” comes from the representation of three main stakeholder groups: business, education and STEM societies nationwide.
Weld’s national service also includes membership on the Board of Directors for the National Partnership for Equity Education Foundation (NAPE-EF), an organization devoted to expanding career options and the economic potential of America’s diverse workforce. Prior to directorship of IMSEP, Weld taught biology, prepared naturalists and science teachers for the classroom, and conducted research on best teaching practices as an associate professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). In 2007 he received the Four-Year College & University Section Biology Teaching Award by the National Association of Biology Teachers. Dr. Weld has authored more than 50 research articles, essays and book chapters, along with the popular textbook, The Game of Science Education, published in 2004.
To see the complete Triangle Coalition Board of Directors click here.
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The Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) is the program arm for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council and is a state-funded initiative led by the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). IMSEP’s goals are to improve mathematics and science performance of Iowa students; to prepare more high quality mathematics and science teachers for Iowa’s schools; and to promote statewide collaboration and cooperation. For more information, please contact the IMSEP offices at (319) 273-2716, imsep@iowamathscience.org or visit www.iowamathscience.org.