Since 2007
My Life in
Academia
and resources for fellow faculty
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Mary’s ability to translate complex scientific concepts into anecdotes that the general public can appreciate is remarkable. The splashes of humor and intrigue that pepper her presentations engage diverse audiences and connect the public with science.
Dr. Kristen Procko, University of Texas, Austin
Tools for Faculty
STEM Faculty
San Jose State University, San Jose, California
Department of Biological Sciences
Curriculum Vitae
Fellowships, Grants and Awards
Resilient Course Design Institute, Content Creator
2021, San Jose State University
Humanizing STEM
2021, Online Network of Educators
Innovation for Student Success Award
2020 San Jose State University
Student Success Analytics Research Cohort
2020 California State University System
Outstanding Faculty Award San Jose State University Disability Resource Center (DRC)
Research, Scholarship & Creativity Grant 2019
Open Educational Resource Initiative Grant 2019
The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges
Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality in the Classroom Research 2018
Cohort Innovations in STEM Teaching Incubator Program UC Berkeley
New Author Award for Write, Present, Create: Science Communication for Undergraduates
San Jose State University
Quality Assurance Professional Development Grant
Salzburg Global Fellow
Global Seminar, U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy
ETS Criterion Implementation Grant
Principal Investigator
Affordable Textbook Alternatives Project Grant
Principal Investigator
eCampus Online Course Development Grant
Principal Investigator
Independent Film Award, Advocacy & Conservation International Wildlife Film Festival
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival Honorable Mention
Education
Ph.D., Psychology (Candidate, 2021)
Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California
Research focus: augmented reality, immersion, engagement
M.S., Psychology
2020 Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California
M.Sc., Science Communication with Merit Honors
2017 Imperial College London
Research Focus: Fear appeals, persuasion, fear science, climate change communication
M.S., Biological Sciences
Concentration in Organismal, Conservation and Ecology
2006 San Jose State University
B.A., Biological Sciences
2002 San Jose State University
Teaching Highlights
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Designed and implemented 7 inaugural, lower division general education courses in the online environment since 2008 with original digital content (Bio 10-The Living World, Bio 21- Human Biology, Bio 54 -Human Understanding, UNVS 96GB - Global Citizenship, GLST 1B - Global Studies in the Life Sciences, ES01-Intro to Environmental Studies, ESCi-19 Environmental Biology).
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Selected by CSU Chancellor’s Office for the CourseMatch Program (Biology 10).
Achieved official Quality Matters Certification of Online Education Excellence (Biology 10)
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Created an outdoor volunteer program in 2009 with roughly 5,000 students contributing nearly 20,000 work hours to local, environmental non-profit organizations to date.
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Specializing in large (100 student) to mega lecture (400 student) science courses; in person, hybrid and fully digital.
“Mary is a model for continued professional development and engagement”
Michael Kaufman, Dean, College of Science, SJSU