Westfield State recently virtually hosted the spring meeting of the Massachusetts Regional Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) Network, a collaboration of institutions that focuses on empowering STEM faculty through the American Association of Colleges & Universities.
Associate Professor of Biology Robin White, Ph.D., a member of the PKAL steering committee, served as Westfield State’s coordinator of the event, during which several WSU faculty served as moderators and presenters.
Among 150 participants were individuals from across the country and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Following opening remarks from WSU Dean of the College of Mathematics and Science Jennifer Hanselman, Ph.D., the event consisted of 33 presentations, a panel discussion, six posters, four workshops, and 21 oral presentations.
A trio of oral presentations were made by WSU faculty members:
- “Development and Evaluation of a Hyflex Microbiology lab for inclusive teaching during COVID-19” by Kimberly Berman, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology,
- “Preparing STEM Educators During a Pandemic” by Assistant Professor of Biology Arne Christensen, Ph.D., and Chemical and Physical Sciences Professors Frank Giuliano, Ph.D.; Diane Morton, Ph.D., and Taryn Weiss, Ph.D.
- “Tricks to know your students are awake, alive, and learning on Zoom; Engaging students in lecture courses delivered remotely” by Assistant Professor of Psychology Princy Quadros Mennella, Ph.D., who also served as a moderator.
Other WSU faculty to serve as moderators were Professor of Environmental Science Professor Tim Parshall, Ph.D., and Assistant Professors of Biology Kelly-Anne McKeown, Ph.D., and Mao-Lun Weng, Ph.D.