Dr. Usha Rajdev Honored by International Association for STEM Leaders
Dr. Usha Rajdev, Marymount University professor of education, has been awarded the Higher Education K-12 STEM Partnership Award by the International Association for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Leaders. The award was presented at the organization’s inaugural leadership event at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Nearly 100 STEM leaders from around the world joined the IASL leadership.
Dr. Rajdev was honored for developing a STEM partnership with Fort Belvoir Elementary School in Fairfax, VA – providing opportunities for her undergraduate and graduate students to gain hands-on experience in the classroom, while also providing the school children with interactive math and science activities to excite their interest in these subjects. Dr. Rajdev’s students create integrated STEM lesson plans and implement them, alongside seasoned teachers in area schools. She and Dr. Eric Bubar, Marymount assistant professor of physics, also arranged for Ft. Belvoir children to talk via amateur radio (ARISS) with astronaut Dr. Koichi Wakata of Japan on the International Space Station.
In addition, during the IASL summit, eleven of Dr. Rajdev’s graduate students helped define the attributes of quality STEM programs and the indicators for STEM certification, which will be used to develop an international certification program.
The International Association for STEM Leaders is globally recognized for creating a "golden standard" for STEM excellence in traditional and non-traditional educational settings for all pre-kindergarten through adult students. In collaboration with global STEM leaders, the IASL will provide guidance for implementing excellent STEM programming and develop a STEM framework that is industry-based and globally recognized. In the coming months, IASL will host regional events to continue its recognition of exceptional leadership through awards and to focus its outreach activities around regional education and economic development issues.
The STEM Leadership Summit was held in conjunction with the world’s largest STEM event, hosted by the USA Science and Engineering Festival.
For more information, please contact Dr. Carole Cameron Inge at (540) 837-2175 or email@example.com