2025 Ohio PKAL Regional Network Meeting
Workforce Development: Connecting College to Careers Through STEM Education
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Co-Hosted by Ohio PKAL and Ohio Academy of Sciences
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio
This meeting has passed.
Description
Project Kaleidoscope is AAC&U's STEM Center of Higher Education reform initiatives dedicated to empowering all STEM faculty and administrators to graduate more students who are competitively trained in STEM disciplines and liberally educated for an increasingly technologically-based world. The PKAL Regional Networks provide low-cost, effective professional development opportunities for STEM faculty and administrators to foster a caring community, explore and advance modern undergraduate STEM pedagogies, disseminate findings from undergraduate STEM research and practice, and promote STEM faculty career advancement.
The 9th Annual Ohio-PKAL Regional Network Meeting will be held jointly with the Ohio Academy of Science on April 11-12, 2025, at Miami University’s Oxford Campus. This meeting will feature a keynote address, panel discussion, lunch, and poster sessions, as well as a number of concurrent oral sessions. The overarching theme of the meeting is “Workforce development: Connecting college to careers through STEM education.” It is a unique opportunity for STEM STEM faculty and staff, and their students (graduate and undergraduate) to present their work; attend sessions; and network with scientists, engineers, educators, employers, and students across Ohio.
Dr. Ted Clark, a professor of teaching in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio State University, will be the keynote speaker.
Keynote Presenter
Saturday, April 12, 2025 / –
Ted Clark
Ted Clark received his B.A. in Chemistry, History, and Religious Studies from the University of Detroit in 1991 and earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1997. He joined The Ohio State University as a postdoctoral researcher with Dr. Philip Grandinetti and has since held various roles, including Instructional Laboratory Supervisor for analytical chemistry courses (2003–2007) and Associate Director of the Ohio Center for Undergraduate Research – Research Experiences to Enhance Learning (OCUR-REEL) program (2007–2011). Dr. Clark is now a Professor of Teaching and an active researcher in chemical education. His work focuses on metacognitive learning strategies, AI-supported personalized learning, active learning pedagogy, and technology-enhanced instruction, including the integration of PhET simulations in laboratory and large-enrollment courses. He has been deeply engaged in teacher professional development, particularly in Modeling Instruction, and played a key role in designing and leading the online certificate program “Advanced Chemistry Knowledge for Educators.” His contributions to STEM education have been recognized with multiple awards, including the Ohio PKAL STEM Educator of the Year Award, the OSU Provost Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Lecturer, and the Mid-Career Faculty Excellence Award. These honors highlight his dedication to excellence in teaching, research, and innovative pedagogical practices.
Registration Information
Information for Ohio PKAL registration
PKAL event registration is online. Registration includes breakfast, lunch and reception on April 12. The registration deadline is March 31.
- General Registration: $90
- Graduate Student/Postdoc: $75
Information for OAS registration
For OAS members and students, visit the OAS website for registration information.
Travel Information
Meeting Locations:
- Pearson Hall
700 E. High Street - Psychology Building
90 N Patterson Ave - Laws Hall
551 E High Street
Area Hotels: Due to a spring open house on campus, availability in Oxford is limited. Please consider hotels on the west side of the city of Hamilton, OH, which is about 20 minutes' driving distance from the Oxford campus of Miami University.
Lodging is available at Hueston Woods Lodge, about 10 minutes from the Oxford campus.
Parking: The closest parking garage is located just behind Pearson Hall. North Garage is located at 600 E. Withrow Ln., Oxford, OH 45056. The parking fee is $2 for the first hour; $1.00 for each additional hour thereafter.
Schedule-at-a-Glance
April 11, 2025 | ||
| 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Board Meeting [By invitation only] | |
| 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Reception [RSVP required] | Lee and Rosemary Fisher Innovation College@Elm, 20 S Elm Street |
April 12, 2025 | ||
| 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Registration | Pearson Hall Foyer |
| 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM | Breakfast | Pearson Hall Atrium |
| 8:45 AM – 9:30 AM | Poster Session 1 | Pearson Hall, 1st and 2nd Floor Hallways |
| 9:40 AM – 10:30 AM | Oral Presentations 1 | Pearson Hall, Psychology Building |
| 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM | Keynote | Laws 100 |
| 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Panel Discussion | Laws 100 |
| 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch | Pearson Hall, 1st and 2nd Floor |
| 1:40 PM – 2:30 PM | Oral Presentations 2 | Pearson Hall, Psychology Building |
| 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM | Poster Session 2 | Pearson Hall, 1st and 2nd Floor Hallways |
| 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Reception | Pearson Hall, Atrium |
2025 OH-PKAL Regional Network Event Committee
Joyce Fernandes (co-chair), Miami University
James McCargar, Baldwin Wallace University
Jennifer Quinn (co-chair), Miami University
Carrie Davis Todd, Baldwin Wallace University
Paul Wendel, Otterbein University
2025 OAS Conference Committee
Sharon Custer, Miami University
Joyce Fernandes, Miami University
Alyson Gruber, Ohio Academy of Science
Dorie Gruber, Ohio Academy of Science
Halle Miller, Associate Director for Partners Environmental Consulting, Inc
Jennifer Quinn, Miami University
Michael Woytek, Ohio Academy of Science
Questions?
Contact Joyce Fernandes at joyce.fernandes@miamioh.edu