Press Release
June 4, 2008
Director named for Mathematics and Science Education Collaborative Initiative
Jeff Weld, associate professor in the University of Northern Iowa Department of Biology, has been named director of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, Mathematics & Science Education Collaborative Initiative, effective July 1.
"Jeff has delivered exceptional service this past year in his leadership role working with faculty at UNI, the University of Iowa and Iowa State University to devise a plan that will enhance math and science education teaching and student learning," said Ben Allen, UNI president.
In May 2007, Weld was named leader of the Regents Math & Science Collaborative Initiative. Weld has been at UNI since 2000. He holds a Ph.D. in science education from the University of Iowa and prior to that taught high school sciences for 11 years. He also was recognized as the 2007 Four-year College Biology Teacher of the Year by the National Association of Biology Teachers.
The initiative is led by UNI in collaboration with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. The initiative has three basic goals:
- 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.
"I'm excited to work collaboratively with the various stakeholders as we strengthen math and science education opportunities for teachers and our young generation of students who will prove to be the seed corn of our 21st century economy and society," Weld said.
To further the goals of the initiative, several projects are proposed. They include the establishment of:
The Regents Mathematics and Science Education Institute to be located at UNI, with faculty and staff distributed at all three state universities;
- Math and Science Majors to Teaching to address teacher shortage by recruiting students into math and science teaching;
- Science and Math Teacher Real World Interns to establish summer math and science-related internships in the private and public sector for math and science;
- Wider implementation of Project Lead The Way (PLTW) across Iowa. PLTW targets math and science curriculum and student recruitment to math and science careers;
- Community College STEM Instructor Preparation and Updates to address the shortage of math and science instructors at community colleges.