Steven Oppenheimer | Gerry Simila | Virginia Vandergon | Norman Herr | Tony Recalde | Evaluator
STEVEN
B. OPPENHEIMER, Ph.D.
email: steven.oppenheimer@csun.edu
Steve Oppenheimer received the Ph.D. degree from Johns
Hopkins University and is currently Professor of Biology and Director,
Center for Cancer and Developmental Biology at California State University,
Northridge. He is the author or co-author, mostly with his Cal State students
and K-12 teachers, of over 140 published papers, abstracts and books, including
10 textbooks and textbook editions. He has been awarded over $5 million
in research and science education grants, serving as Principal Investigator,
and served on National Institutes of Health
and National Science Foundation grant review
panels. He has directed or is currently directing National
Science Foundation, California Science
Project and Eisenhower teacher enhancement
projects. He is the recipient of 21 awards and honors in the areas of teaching
and research. In 1984 he was named a statewide Trustees Outstanding Professor
of the California State University system (the system's highest honor),
and in 1992 he was elected Fellow of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The AAAS defines
a Fellow as "a member whose efforts on behalf of the advancement of
science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished."
Dr. Oppenheimer serves as a co-director of the project and is responsible
for carrying out Track 2, the Inquiry-Based Research
Track component of the Eisenhower program.
GERRY SIMILA, Ph.D.
email: gerry.simila@csun.edu
Gerry Simila received his Ph.D. from University
of California, Berkeley. He is currently Professor
of Geology and Director, Center for Earthquake Studies at California
State University, Northridge. He is author or co-author of numerous
published articles and abstracts in the areas of earthquake research and
geoscience education. His current education grants and positions include
co-director of the California Science Project
at California State University, Northridge; NASA grants for pre-service
teachers and geology majors; NSF grants for geology curriculum equipment;
and NSF grants for the California Earthquake Center seismic project for
the San Fernando Valley. He is co-director of the proposed program, responsible
for Track 1, the Geoscience/Physical Science Workshop
component.
VIRGINIA
OBERHOLZER VANDERGON, Ph.D.
email: virginia.vandergon.simila@csun.edu
Virginia Vandergon received the Ph.D. degree from University
of California, Riverside. She is an assistant professor of Biology and
the K-12 science education outreach representative for the Biology department
of California State University, Northridge. She has a California State Teaching
Credential and is a former high school Biology teacher and department chair.
She has designed and taught science and math courses for grades 9-12 and
has designed and taught university-level science courses for prospective
teachers. She has published in her research area of expertise, which is
plant molecular evolution and genetics. She has also published a biology
study guide for the CLEP exams. She is one of those rare individuals with
extensive expertise in both K-12 teaching and administration, and university-level
teaching and research science. She is currently the implementation director
of the CSP and has presented workshops
that focus on the Biology component of the 6-12 science standards. She is
co-director of the Track 1 component of this grant
and presents content workshops and observes the teacher leaders in their
classrooms.
NORMAN
HERR, Ph.D.
email: norm.herr@csun.edu
Norm Herr received the Ph.D. degree from University
of California, Los Angeles. He is Professor
of Science and Computer Education in the College of Education at California
State University, Northridge, and a former high school science department
chair. He directs the graduate programs in science
and computer
education at CSUN and has also served as a chemist, college science
instructor and consultant for the College Board's Advanced Placement Biology
Program. He has published numerous articles on his research on advanced
science instruction in American high schools and has co-authored the Physical
Science Curriculum Library (1999, Prentice-Hall), a 1300-page resource
for secondary school science teachers that includes Hands-On Chemistry Activities
with Real-Life Applications and Hands-On Physics Activities with Real-Life
Applications. Dr. Herr is the author and principal investigator of 45 grants
in science and computer education and has served as a consultant for numerous
other projects. Dr. Herr is responsible for all Web-based
training, Web-based reporting of classroom implementation and in-servicing,
Web-based forums and Web-based resources development for Eisenhower teachers.
TONY RECALDE, B.S., M.A.
Tony Recalde is the Magnet School Director of Reseda
Science Magnet High School in the Los
Angeles Unified School District. He directs all aspects of this school,
including operations, records, counseling, curriculum, evaluation, innovation,
and developing a rich multicultural climate. He was a founding member of
the Curriculum and Test Committee, Advanced Placement Environmental Science,
Educational Testing Service (ETS), Princeton,
New Jersey. His many awards include Outstanding High School Teacher from
the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Best Instructor, Reseda High School,
and Favorite Teacher, Reseda High School. Mr. Recalde will be the liaison
with all partner and participating schools. He will disseminate project
information and applications and will work with school principals to help
assure quality classroom implementation and teacher in-service. He will
assist us in reviewing project progress and intervention strategies.
Project Evaluator
Dr. Susie Hakansson, Executive, Director of the California Math Project
Assessment and Dissemination specialist
email: shakans@ucla.edu
The CSUN Eisenhower Science Leader Initiative is administered
by the California Postsecondary Education
Commission
