Ambassador Community
The HHMI BioInteractive Ambassador community is a growing network of expert high school and undergraduate educators who work closely with BioInteractive to promote and support evidence-based teaching practices, drive change in science education, and elevate the professional and scholarly profile of science teaching.
HHMI BioInteractive Ambassador Academy
HHMI BioInteractive has selected 30 high school and undergraduate educators for the 2020–2023 HHMI BioInteractive Ambassador Academy, a 3-year professional development pathway designed to grow the Ambassador Community. These outstanding life and environmental science educators, who represent a variety of educational contexts in 22 states and Canada, will work with BioInteractive to spread inclusive and equitable science teaching practices that incorporate our classroom resources, approach, and values.
Cohort members will participate in a research-based professional development pathway focused on building professional learning leadership capacity. The Academy will include workshops, coaching, professional networking, and opportunities to participate in and present at science education conferences. See below for more information on the Academy pathway and benefits of participation.
Upon completion of the Academy, cohort members will join the Ambassador community and help to design and facilitate BioInteractive professional learning experiences for other educators, serve as program advisors, and contribute to BioInteractive content as developers, reviewers, and field testers.
2020-2023 Ambassador Academy members:
- Marisa Alvarado, Grossmont High School (El Cajon, CA)
- Karen Avery, Pennsylvania College of Technology (Williamsport, PA)
- Alexis Black, Mayfield High School (Las Cruces, NM)
- Christina Bowers, Meridian World School, Round Rock Texas (Round Rock, TX)
- Kasey Christopher, Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Elise Cooksley, Mount Si High School (Snoqualmie, WA)
- Britt Czupryna, Niles West High School (Skokie, IL)
- Deanna Digitale-Grider, Eric Solorio Academy High School (Chicago, IL)
- Mara Evans, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC)
- Amaya Garcia Costas, Colorado State University-Pueblo (Pueblo, CO)
- Morgan Heinz, University of Washington - Tacoma Campus (Tacoma, WA)
- Tanea Hibler, Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix, AZ)
- Christina Moran-Johnson, School District of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
- Jim Lane, Mahtomedi High School (Mahtomedi, MN)
- Samuel Loftus, Livingston Collegiate Academy (New Orleans, LA)
- Billie Long, Cleveland High School (Cleveland, TN)
- Megan Lupek, North Carolina State University at Raleigh (Raleigh, NC)
- Brian Mason, Chugiak High School (Chugiak, AK)
- Amit Morris, Upper Canada College (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
- Peter Park, Farmingdale State College (Farmingdale, NY)
- Heather Peterson, Holt High School (Holt, MI)
- Dionne Reid, Charles W. Flanagan High School (Pembroke Pines, FL)
- Catherina Sammons, Tates Creek High School (Lexington, KY)
- Kristen Short, Manchester University (North Manchester, IN)
- Matthew Stern, Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC)
- Karen Wellner, Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Chandler, AZ)
- Rebecca Westphal, Cape Cod Community College (Barnstable, MA)
- Candace Wicks, Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, TX)
- Young Yoo, Augustana College (Rock Island, IL)
Academy Pathway
Benefits of Participation
- Up to 3 years of professional learning and development
- Full travel and registration support to participate in NABT during year 1 and 2
- Participation in a national professional network of expert life science educators
- Full travel and registration, coaching support and $1000 stipend to present at least once at a national and/or regional meeting in year 3
Opportunities with BioInteractive
The window to submit an intent to apply for the 2020–2023 HHMI BioInteractive Ambassador Academy has closed. To stay informed about future opportunities as they become available, sign up for BioInteractive News.