Online Master of Science in Education in Curriculum & Instruction — Faculty

Meet Your Faculty

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Explore how Purdue’s faculty for the online MS in Education in Curriculum & Instruction can prepare you to help all students learn.

Faculty

  • Paul Asunda, Associate Professor

    pasunda@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Workforce Education and Development, University of Georgia
    • MIBA in International Business Administration, United States International University
    • BA in Education, Fine Arts, Kenyatta University

    Research Interests

    • Implementation of engineering design practices within integrated STEM environments
    • Development of Integrated STEM pedagogical knowledge
    • STEM education and initiatives in career and college success
    • Assessment and evaluation in i-STEM environments

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  • Luke Bennett, Clinical Assistant Professor

    benne295@purdue.edu

    Education

    • EdD — Education, Nova Southeastern University (2014)
      •  Concentration 1: Instructional Technology and Distance Education
      • Concentration 2: Instructional Leadership- Curriculum Development
    • MA — Teaching, Belhaven University (2005)
    • BA — Psychology, Florida International University (1998)

    Research Interests

    • Pedagogy and Management Within Emerging Learning Spaces
    • Extended Reality
    • Online Learning
    • Technology Integration

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  • Laura Bofferding, Associate Professor

    lbofferding@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education, Stanford University
    • MA in Learning, Design, and Technology in Education, Stanford University
    • BS in Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin

    Research Interests

    • Pre-K and elementary students’ cognitive development and understanding of mathematics (focus on negative numbers and spatial thinking)
    • Using picture books, games, contrasting cases, and worked examples to support children’s mathematical understanding
    • How teachers’ use of questioning, number talks, and students’ mathematical reasoning affect each other
    • Sequencing of mathematics topics

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    Education
    • PhD in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education, Stanford University
    • MA in Learning, Design, and Technology in Education, Stanford University
    • BS in Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin
    Research Interests
    • Pre-K and elementary students’ cognitive development and understanding of mathematics (focus on negative numbers and spatial thinking)
    • Using picture books, games, contrasting cases, and worked examples to support children’s mathematical understanding
    • How teachers’ use of questioning, number talks, and students’ mathematical reasoning affect each other
    • Sequencing of mathematics topics
  • Jake Burdick, Associate Professor

    burdics@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD, Arizona State University
    • MA, Northern Arizona University
    • BA, Northern Arizona University

    Research Interests

    • Public and popular sites of education
    • Activist studies
    • Community knowledge and perceptions of education

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  • Virak Chan, Clinical Associate Professor

    chan201@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD — Culture, Language and Literacy, University of Texas at San Antonio
    • MA — Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, San Jose State University, California
    • Grad. Dip. Applied Linguistics, Regional Language Center, Singapore
    • BEd — Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Research Interests

    • Language and education policies and practices for linguistically and culturally diverse students
    • Teacher development
    • Bilingual education
    • Linguistic landscape

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  • Marisa Exter, Associate Professor

    mexter@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University
    • MS in Computer Science, Illinois Institute of Technology
    • BS in Computer Science, Elmhurst College

    Research Interests

    • Instructional design and computing education
    • Professional skill development
    • Life-long learning skills and attitudes
    • Competency-based education
    • Interdisciplinary learning experiences.

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  • Holly Fiock, Instructor

    hfiock@purdue.edu

    Education

    • Doctoral student, Learning Design and Technology, Purdue University
    • MS in Learning Design and Technology, Purdue University
    • BA in Social Studies Education, Purdue University

    Research Interests

    • Online learning and best practices
    • Community of Inquiry Framework
      • Specifically - looking at the factors, items that instructors can control to develop effective online communities of inquiry
    • Bridging the gap between research and practice in online learning theory and trends
  • Siddika Selcen Guzey, Professor

    sguzey@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Science Education, University of Minnesota
    • MA in Science Education, University of Minnesota
    • BS in Biology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Research Interests

    • Integrated STEM education 
    • Technology integration in biology teaching

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  • Wanju Huang, Clinical Associate Professor

    wanjuhuag@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, Concentration in Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    Research Interests

    • Computer-mediated communication
    • Community of Inquiry
    • Online learning
    • Scenario-based learning
    • Augmented reality and virtual reality
    • Faculty development

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  • Chrystal Johnson, Associate Professor

    johnsoncs@purdue.edu

    Research Interests

    • The pedagogies, mechanisms and ecologies that foster strong political sophistication among black adolescent males
    • If there has been a fundamental shift in how young black males engage in the political process
    • How civic educators can capture and sustain young, black, male civic energy

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  • Signe Kastberg, Professor

    skastber@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Mathematics Education, The University of Georgia
    • MA in Mathematics, The University of Georgia
    • BA in Mathematics, Keene State University

    Research Interests

    • Mathematics Teacher Educator Practices
    • Multiplicative Reasoning
    • Preservice Teacher Core Practices

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  • Rachael Kenney, Associate Professor

    rhkenney@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Mathematics Education, North Carolina State University
    • MS in Applied Mathematics, University of Dayton
    • BS in Mathematics, University of Dayton

    Research Interests

    • Writing and reflection in the learning of mathematics
    • The academic language of mathematics
    • Students’ and teachers’ anticipatory and reflective practices in learning and teaching mathematics

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  • Adrie Koehler, Associate Professor

    akoehler@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, Purdue University
    • MS in Technology, IUPUI
    • BS in Business Education; Information, Design, and End-User Computing; Business Administration, Indiana State University

    Research Interests

    • Investigating social media for instructional and professional purposes
    • Examining the development and impact of instructor presence in online settings
    • Exploring case-based instruction facilitation methods
    • Discovering techniques for improving the transition of pre-service teachers into the education profession

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  • Victoria Lowell, Clinical Professor

    vllowell@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Education with dual concentration in Distance Education & Higher Education - Research and Institutional Planning, Regent University
    • MEd in Educational Technology, University of Hawaii
    • Post-Bac in Teacher Education Certification Program, Secondary Social Studies, University of Hawaii
    • BA in History, Virginia Wesleyan College

    Research Interests

    • Situated learning and authentic tasks for online and blended learning
    • Collaborative learning
    • Student and instructor self-efficacy

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  • Nathan Mentzer, Professor

    nmentzer@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD — Curriculum & Instruction, Utah State University
    • MS — Curriculum & Instruction, Montana State University
    • BS — Technology Education, Montana State University 

    Research Interests

    • Dr. Mentzer’s educational efforts in pedagogical content knowledge are guided by a research theme centered in student learning of engineering design thinking on the secondary level.

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  • Patricia (Trish) Morita-Mullaney, Associate Professor

    tmoritam@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Language, Literacy & Culture, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
    • MS in Educational Leadership, Butler University
    • MS in Language, Literacy & Culture, Indiana University Purdue University
    • BS in Elementary Education with specialization and certification in English Language Learners, IUPUI

    Research Interests

    • Her research focuses on the intersections of language learning, gender, and race — seeking to discover how they inform the identity acts of educators of bilingual students. Guided by critical and feminist thought, she examines how these overlapping identities serve the logics of educational decision-making for bilingual students.

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  • Timothy Newby, Professor

    newby@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Instructional Psychology, Brigham Young University
    • BS in Psychology, Brigham Young University

    Research Interests

    • Issues pertaining to motivation, human learning, instructional strategies, and the use of technology. In particular, he is examining the impact of digital open badges on learning and motivation in post-secondary education.

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  • Jill Newton, Professor

    janewton@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy (Mathematics Education), Michigan State University
    • MA in International Education, George Washington University
    • BS in Mathematics, Michigan State University

    Research Interests

    • Mathematics education curriculum
    • Mathematics teacher education
    • Algebra teaching and learning
    • Intercultural learning and social justice

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  • Nielsen Pereira, Associate Professor

    npereira@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Educational Psychology (Gifted and Talented Education), Purdue University,
    • MA in Applied Linguistics (Second Language Acquisition), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
    • BA in English Education, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

    Research Interests

    • Design and assessment of learning in varied gifted and talented education contexts
    • Understanding gifted and talented student experiences in talent development programs in and out of school
    • Conceptual, contextual, and measurement issues in the identification of gifted and talented populations

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  • Jennifer Richardson, Professor

    jennrich@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, Specializations in Educational Technology and Literacy, University at Albany/SUNY
    • CAS in Educational Research and Program Evaluation, University at Albany/SUNY
    • MS in Curriculum Design & Instructional Technology, University at Albany/SUNY
    • MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, University at Albany/SUNY
    • MS in Educational Administration and Policy Studies, University at Albany/SUNY
    • BA in Political Science and History, Russell Sage College

    Research Interests

    • Online learning, specifically the Community of Inquiry , social presence, and evidence-based practices of design and gauging learning in online environments

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  • Brenda Sarmiento-Quezada, Assistant Professor

    bsarmien@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD — Culture, Language and Literacy, University of Texas at San Antonio
    • MPA — Public Policy and Analysis, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
    • BA — Political Science, French (Minor), Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
    • AA — International Studies, San Antonio College, San Antonio, Texas

    Research Interests

    • Teacher education and preparation programs
    • Literacy integration across content areas
    • Bilingual community engagement
    • Digital spaces and multimodalities
    • Language policy and practices
    • Refugee and displaced populations
    • Thirdspace theory

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  • Ofelia Castro Schepers, Assistant Professor

    oscheper@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD – Sociological, Multicultural, and Bilingual Foundation of Education: Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity
    • MSE – Curriculum and Instruction, University of Kansas
    • BSE – Elementary Education, University of Kansas

    Research Interests

    • Secondary traumatic stress in teachers
    • Dual language and bilingual teacher preparation
    • Multicultural and bilingual education practices
    • Equity and social justice issues in education


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  • Kristen Seward, Clinical Associate Professor

    ksseward@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Education/Gifted, Creative, & Talented Studies, Purdue University
    • MS in Education/School Counseling, Purdue University
    • BA in English/Education, Purdue University

    Research Interests

    • Gifted education in rural areas o Professional development
    • Qualitative and mixed-methods studies
    • Gifted education applications for all students
    • Social and emotional characteristics & needs of students with gifts and talents

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  • Sunnie Watson, Professor

    sunnieleewatson@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Indiana University
    • PhD in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University
    • MEd in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University
    • BA in Educational Technology, Ewha Woman's University

    Research Interests

    • Attitude change instruction
    • Information-age educational technology such as MOOCs and PIES
    • Critical Systems Theory for qualitative educational research and school change

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  • William Watson, Professor

    brwatson@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University
    • MS in Information Science, Indiana University
    • BA in English, Indiana University

    Research Interests

    • Professor Watson’s research focuses on realizing a personalized learning paradigm, including through the design and leveraging of attitudinal learning and learning technology such as video games, virtual environments, digital badges, and learning management software.

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  • Wayne E. Wright, Professor

    wewright@purdue.edu

    Education

    • PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, Arizona State University
    • MA in Language, Literacy, & Learning, California State University
    • BA in Liberal Studies (Concentration in Asian American Studies), California State University

    Research Interests

    • Bilingual Education
    • Dual language bilingual education
    • Mother-tongue-based multilingual education
    • English as a second/foreign language
    • Second-language teaching and learning
    • Heritage languages
    • High-stakes testing, language assessment, Asian American Education, Southeast Asian American Education, Cambodian Americans, Education policy and practice in Cambodia

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Prepare to Lead

Explore how the faculty in Purdue’s online MS in Education in Curriculum and Instruction can help you advance student learning and your career.

To learn more, call 877-497-5851 to speak to an admissions advisor or request more information.