Project Staff

Principal Investigators, senior associate and evaluators for the USM Center for Teaching and Learning include:

Dr. Lon J. Mathias, Director of the Polymer Science Learning Center and Professor of Polymer Science. Dr. Mathias has national experience in working with multimedia education and using technology for the development and delivery of polymer educational materials. He will provide content expertise in polymer science and leadership in the technological aspects of the project.

Dr. Susan C. Ross, Director of the Center for Science and Mathematics Education and Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Dr. Ross has an extensive background working with preservice and inservice teachers and training in pedagogical techniques. She has also coordinated a number of professional development programs for teachers. Her role in the project will be to serve as primary principal investigator and as administrative head. She will also provide leadership in the pedagogical aspects of the program as well as direct the research component.

Dr. Sharon H. Walker, Administrator of the Marine Education Center &Aquarium and Professor of Coastal Sciences. Dr. Walker has coordinated numerous professional development programs for preservice and inservice teachers in the areas of marine and coastal science and oceanography. She will provide content expertise in marine and aquatic sciences. With her extensive background in summer Institutes with teachers, she will also provide direction in the organization and structure of the summer Institutes.

Dr. Scott D. McDowell, Chairman of the Department of Radio, Television and Film. Dr. McDowell has been involved in educating undergraduate and graduate students in all aspects of media for communication, and has recently begun collaboration with the other Principal Investigators in multimedia education materials development and teacher education. He will be presenting video training modules for four year college faculty participating in the NSF funded REU site in Polymer Science and the Dreyfus Project offering summer institutes for high school teachers in multimedia and video for content, methods and assessment. He is co-Principal Investigator on the USM Lucas Endowment Grant (along with Dr. Lon Mathias) to purchase digital video cameras and workshops for editing, post-production and integration into multimedia modules for on-campus and distance learning activities.

Dr. Frank X. Suttman is a Senior Scholar in Science/Chemical Education and Coordinator of the Center for Science Laboratory Studies; former Professor of Science Education and Director of the Multicultural/lingual Science Education Center at Temple University and has taught many education courses. He has had joint funding from NSF and the Dreyfus Foundation for research and development activities related to "Seeking More Effective Learning Outcomes from Laboratory Experiences in Science/Chemistry Instruction." He has numerous publications related to assessment in science education.

Howard Walters, M.Ed, Curriculum and Instruction, The University of West Florida, is currently a faculty member at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. In this capacity, during the years 1997 through spring of 1999 he implemented a $1.3 million dollar effort to re-structure the Developmental and Remedial Studies Program using computer-mediated instruction. He has designed and/or implemented the data analyses and evaluations of the Global Environmental Education Program (NSF funded), the National Oceanography and Coastal Processes Effort (Pathfinder, funded by NOAA and Sea Grant), the National Global Videoconference Effort (NOAA and Sea Grant), the National, COAST Project (NOAA and the United States Navy), and the National Ocean Sciences Bowl competition (funded by NSF and NOAA). He has been responsible for the evaluation of each of the federal and state funded educational programs at the Scott Aquarium and Marine Education Center at The University of Southern Mississippi's Institute of Marine Sciences since 1992. Mr. Walters has been an educator for 13 years and is currently a consultant for instructional design and/or evaluation programs with a number of institutions or agencies including the University of Southern Mississippi, Princeton University-Educational Testing Service, the University of South Carolina, the U.S. Department of Education's Americorp Program, and the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.