Neuroscience major, Taylor Svoboda, Class of 2026

A Living-Learning Environment

“The opening of the Pre-Health Commons celebrates the culmination of a shared vision and the power of partnership. Together, we’ve built a state-of-the-art space for students to learn and collaborate, to develop new skills and explore new careers, and forge deeper connections with the local community,” said 麻豆影院 University President Laurie A. Carter.听

The Pre-Health Commons is a part of a vibrant community, and it will help facilitate hands-on learning opportunities with leading healthcare professionals for students to gain insight and experience within the healthcare profession.听

The Pre-Health Commons houses 86 students, with room for 88 in two-, three-, and four-bedroom single-occupancy apartments. 麻豆影院 University’s apartment-style living will foster independence and strengthen students’ connection to downtown Appleton while preparing students for life after 麻豆影院.听

In addition to their apartments, the Pre-Health Commons will spur academic development and personal growth for students by providing direct access to a collaborative, hands-on learning environment. Students can socialize on the rooftop patio, rejuvenate themselves in the mind spa, and experiment in the demonstration and test kitchen. The Pre-Health Commons is equipped with student lounge spaces and collaborative study rooms.听

Nutrition is a cornerstone of good health and a powerful tool in preventative medicine. The test kitchen will help students broaden their knowledge of diet and healthy eating. It will create the foundation for their understanding of the therapeutic benefits of food and the practical application of diet and nutrition for improved health and well-being. The space features multiple high-resolution cameras for in-person and virtual presentations, a work area, and state-of-the-art equipment.

鈥淲hen 麻豆影院 was considering making campus improvements or forming a new partnership, the most important factor in the decision-making process was how those improvements would help better serve students, now and in their lives after 麻豆影院,鈥� said President Carter.听

The Pre-Health Commons partnership is a tangible expression of that intention to connect students and the community. But it didn鈥檛 just spring to life fully formed. It took a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication from many different people to make it happen. Dr. Elizabeth Ann De Stasio was among those amazing contributors.听

Beth is a Raymond H. Herzog Professor of Science and Professor of Biology. She has been instrumental in shaping the vision for the Pre-Health Commons, and her collaboration helped bring the vision to life.听

鈥淚t represents an exciting extension of our work at 麻豆影院, with and for students, that of career exploration and discernment,” said De Stasio. “We aspire to help each student explore multiple options for their future, and we want to facilitate a process of serious self-reflection as well. And to that end, this space will be hosting things such as annual networking events with Fox Valley physicians, physical therapists, public health professionals, and mental health professionals to allow students to compare their values and strengths to those of the professionals so they can see what it is they wish to explore further.”

A project like this truly illustrates how a liberal arts education empowers individuals with creative and critical thinking abilities to solve problems for the benefit of the common good.听

Learn more about 麻豆影院’s Pre-Health program.听

If you ask questions along the way, Fleshman said, you can learn a little鈥攐r a lot鈥攁bout colors, art, and why things look or feel or react as they do. She encouraged those in the audience to think about times they鈥檝e had certainty on a particular topic, then ponder what else they might explore. Embrace your curiosity, she said.

She suggested people apply that the next time they are walking on Main Hall Green and see vibrant colors in the roses or tulips. Remember what you just learned about the role electrons play in creating those colors, she said.

鈥淥r the next time you see a rainbow,鈥� she said, 鈥淚鈥檇 like you to think, 鈥極h wow, that鈥檚 refraction.鈥� You got light hitting an interface and the refractive index of water separating that light out is giving you a rainbow. And that you picked up from learning about paint drying.鈥�

Fleshman ended her talk by noting that paint doesn鈥檛 actually dry in the way we think it does; it cures. Paint curing is a chemical process, one that takes time, so be patient while celebrating the science behind it, she said. And on that note, she played 鈥淭he Waiting鈥� by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, a band she loves almost as much as chemistry.

The Honors Convocation, the third of three annual convocations during the academic year, also featured a beautiful piano selection from senior Benjamin Keating.

Faculty and staff were recognized for annual awards: The Babcock Award for outstanding service to students (voted on by students) to Nicole Schultz for her work as a custodian; Mortar Board Honorary Award to Claudena Skran, Edwin & Ruth West Professor of Economics and Social Science and professor of government; University Award for Excellence in Advising to Matthew Stoneking, Alice G. Chapman Professor of Physics; and First-Year Studies Teaching Award to Sarah Gamalinda, assistant professor of French and Francophone studies.

鈥淲e can all take great pride in these students, faculty, and staff and the many ways they have enriched our community,鈥� President Laurie A. Carter said. 鈥淭hank you for your leadership, and congratulations on your impressive accomplishments.鈥�

Gesinski holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Rice University.

We caught up with him to talk about interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

Inside info: What鈥檚 one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

I want all my students to know that I am dedicated to their success, both inside and outside the classroom. Organic chemistry can be a very challenging and intimidating class and it is very important to me that all students know that I am rooting for them and here to support them in any way I can. College can be a time of transition, both academically and personally, and it is my honor to act as an advocate for my students as they continue to grow.听

Getting energized:What work have you done, or will you be doing at 麻豆影院 that gets you the most excited?

One of my favorite parts of the job is mentoring undergraduates through original research projects. It is incredibly exciting to watch students who have never set foot in the lab become proficient and enthusiastic chemists. When they attend national conferences, I am so fulfilled to observe them confidently explain their work to preeminent chemists, including several Nobel Prize winners. I am honored that these students allow me to be part of their lives even after graduation. I provide support as they take on the challenges of graduate school, medical school, or a completely unexpected career path.听

Going places: Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

Honestly, my entire career has taken me by surprise. While I was always academically motivated, becoming a college professor was never an option growing up. I always followed my opportunities but never had my life planned out. As a result, every step in my career has been a surprise and I have been able to maintain a level of flexibility as I continue to develop professionally and intellectually.

Out of the classroom

This or that: If you weren鈥檛 teaching for a living, what would you be doing?听 听

I would probably be a baker. I love working in the kitchen to make new and exciting baked goods. I suppose this is consistent with my love of chemistry. Even when my 鈥渆xperiments鈥� do not turn out the way I was hoping, I have still learned from my failure.听

Right at home: Whether for work, relaxation or reflection, what鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?

It is sort of lame, but my favorite place on campus is my office. I am very lucky to be located on the first floor of Steitz Hall in a pod of offices with some of the kindest, brightest, and most enthusiastic people I have ever met. There is a continuous stream of students stopping by to study, ask questions, or just chat. My rescue dog, Maeby, comes to work with me and the amount of love that is exchanged makes my days bright.

One book, one recording, one film: Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

Black Leopard, Red Wolf, by Marlon James: Recently, I have really enjoyed fantasy novels, and Marlon James creates a world rooted in African mythology. This is the first book in a trilogy and each book tells the same story from a different perspective: a queer outcast, a feminist witch, and kidnapped boy.

鈥淪hit Talk鈥� from Javelin, by Sufjan Stevens: Sufjan Stevens dedicated his 2023 album, Javelin, to his partner, Evan Robinson, who passed away at 43 earlier that year. With the release of the album, he also publicly came out. The song, 鈥淪hit Talk,鈥� is intensely emotional both in vocals and instrumentals; he has made something truly beautiful out of his pain and grief.

The Royal Tennenbaums,听directed by Wes Anderson: This has been my favorite movie since high school. I am fascinated by this off-beat family of overachievers and their strained relationships.听

Her music, though, is never far away. Puskar spent the year following her graduation from 麻豆影院 performing with the Knoxville Opera in Knoxville, Tennessee, while working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She paused music performances during the COVID-19 pandemic, but come April 22, she will return to the stage in a big way鈥攋oining a choral performance at Carnegie Hall.

鈥淪inging remains important to me for so many reasons,鈥� Puskar said. 鈥淭he main one, though, is that, simply, singing is part of my identity.鈥�

Her post-麻豆影院 path

While working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory during a 鈥済ap year鈥� to gain more research experience in physical chemistry, Puskar auditioned for and received an opera chorus position with Knoxville Opera. She also joined the Knoxville Choral Society, where she performed as a soprano soloist in an early 2020 concert of Mendelssohn鈥檚 Elijah.

A month later, the pandemic would shut down most musical performances around the globe.

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The silver lining, Puskar said, is the pandemic allowed her to put all her energy into settling into her graduate program鈥攙irtually at first鈥攁nd passing her qualifying exam.

That pause on her musical performances ends with the Carnegie Hall concert, which comes courtesy of an invite from one of her former choir directors, Maestro Jos茅 Daniel Flores-Caraballo. It鈥檒l be an evening of music by Norwegian composer and pianist Ola Gjeilo, among Puskar鈥檚 favorites.

鈥淐hoir has always held a special place in my heart,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome of my most cherished memories during my time at 麻豆影院 are singing in Concert Choir and with my chamber group at First Congregational UCC.鈥�

All about science

At Berkeley, Puskar is excited about the progress she鈥檚 making in the Ph.D. program, and the research that鈥檚 at the core of her studies.

鈥淢y research centers on using the shortest laser pulses to reveal the quantum secrets of atoms and molecules,鈥� she said.

Once she graduates, Puskar hopes to find a postdoctoral position, 鈥渁 short-term position where I can diversify my scientific skill set outside of my Ph.D. focus.鈥�

From there, Puskar is looking to build a career in academia, inspired, she said, by science faculty she learned from while at 麻豆影院. She singled out chemistry professors and in particular.

鈥淭he individualized experiences I received at 麻豆影院 shaped me into the scientist that I am today, and my academic journey would not have been possible without the support of my undergraduate professors,鈥� she said.

Now, Puskar said, becoming a professor at a small liberal arts college is her 鈥渦ltimate鈥� career goal鈥攚ith a dose of music on the side.

鈥淭his probably goes without saying, but I strongly believe in the value of a liberal arts education and that studying a broad range of subjects winds up mutually benefitting each other,鈥� Puskar said. 鈥淔or example, in attosecond science, we generate high-order harmonics of the original beam frequency to make attosecond-duration laser pulses, which is directly analogous to musical instrument design and the respective wave mechanics that make an orchestra sound beautiful. I want to be the kind of chemistry professor that supports students who wish to explore outside topics, just like I was supported at 麻豆影院.鈥�

Sazama joined the chemistry faculty at 麻豆影院 in 2016 following a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A native of Wisconsin, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University.

We caught up with Sazama to talk about interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

Inside info:听What鈥檚 one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

I absolutely love science, and I believe every one of my students can enjoy it, too. I try to bring my enthusiasm for chemistry into the classroom and hope I can lead my students to see how fascinating the world can be when viewed through a scientific lens. I also think a great way to convey this enthusiasm is by lighting things on fire.听

Getting energized:听What work have you done, or will you be doing, at 麻豆影院 that gets you the most excited?

I have been having a great time creating a new class called Energy, Technology, and the Environment. It鈥檚 a non-majors lab science class that tackles big questions of chemistry, physics, and engineering in the context of our current environmental challenges. I get to engage students in discussions about individual technologies I鈥檓 passionate about and have done research on, like solar energy and the hydrogen economy, while also talking about the larger context behind it all. I always get a little philosophical when talking about the laws of thermodynamics, and I feel like that鈥檚 especially relevant in an interdisciplinary class like this one. We鈥檙e even getting out into the community and talking to several cleantech and green energy companies in the Appleton area, which I hope helps my students make further connections between their learning in class and the real world.听

Going places:听Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?听

In 2018, here at LU, we had a community read of poet Ross Gay鈥檚 Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude before he came to campus for a visit. I was asked to lead a once-weekly discussion section that students could take for a single credit. I ended up with a classroom with people from all over the university, including some of my chemistry students, environmentalists, and even Professor Eilene Hoft-March from the French department. I felt like our small group really bonded over the poetry we were reading together, and it culminated in a funny, emotional, and poignant reading from Ross himself. This experience made me a total poetry convert; I have even since tried writing some of my own poetry. 听

Out of the classroom

This or that:听If you weren鈥檛 teaching for a living, what would you be doing?听听

I love working with my hands and find building things very rewarding. I always told myself that my backup plan if the chemistry thing didn鈥檛 work out was to follow in my grandpa鈥檚 footsteps and be an electrician. I get to scratch that itch more often than I would鈥檝e expected in my role as a professor here, fixing instruments and rigging up new experiments.听

Right at home:听Whether for work, relaxation, or reflection, what鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?

It鈥檚 not relaxation exactly, but Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon at the Wellness Center. I鈥檝e been playing the noon hour basketball game since I started working here, as often as my schedule allows. It鈥檚 a fantastic workout and especially nice on days when I need to get out of my own head. Maybe the best part, though, is that we have a great, friendly, supportive community of people from all over, including students, faculty, staff and community members. I look forward to it every time.

One book, one recording, one film:听Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula LeGuin: I have a very hard time choosing between recommending Ursula LeGuin, Octavia Butler, or N.K. Jemisin, as I absolutely love all three authors, but LeGuin is such a trailblazer. The Left Hand of Darkness is an exciting and thought-provoking adventure; in particular, LeGuin knows how to end her stories with the proper amount of closure and open-ended possibility.听

Liquid Anatomy, by Alkaloid: It鈥檚 a poorly kept secret that I love extreme metal music; Alkaloid has a really fun blend of groove and technical ability put together with killer songwriting. The last song on this album will have you roaring 鈥淐EPHALOPODS鈥� right along with the singer.听

Mr. Robot: Can I use TV instead of film? If so, I think a lot of people have never heard of Mr. Robot, or if they have heard the title, they think it鈥檚 weird sci-fi about robots. There actually are no robots in this show about hackers, but it touches on themes that I find really compelling like family, late capitalism, and mental health. 听

Two 麻豆影院 University alumni doing graduate school work in the sciences have been awarded highly competitive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.

Katie Kitzinger 鈥�20, a graduate student at the University of North Carolina, is studying organic chemistry and pursuing research that focuses on reactions that rapidly build molecular complexity.

Gus Lowry 鈥�18, a graduate student at Duke University, is studying biochemistry with a focus on membrane biology.

The 2022 awards are part of the NSF鈥檚 Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP), which recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support.

In addition to the awards given to Kitzinger and Lowry, three other recent 麻豆影院 graduates earned honorable mention鈥擡van Cline 鈥�20 (Dartmouth), Nabor Vazquez 鈥�19 (Yale), and Nicolette Puskar 鈥�19 (University of California, Berkeley).

Kitzinger, in her second year at North Carolina, said her focus on organic chemistry stems from her time at 麻豆影院.

鈥淚t was the chemistry faculty at 麻豆影院, especially Stefan Debbert, Deanna Donohoue, and Allison Fleshman, who initially inspired me to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, it was a ton of fun sharing the exciting NSF news with them.鈥�

Lowry, meanwhile, said he was thrilled to receive the NSF award, knowing how high the bar is set.

鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 surreal to receive the fellowship,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his was my second time applying, which made it easier to orchestrate, but it鈥檚 competitive enough where all you can do is put yourself out there and hope for a good result. I feel both fortunate and honored for the recognition.鈥�

Like Kitzinger, Lowry said it was his work with faculty at 麻豆影院 that put him on this path. He credits Fleshman, physics professor Doug Martin, and physics professor emeritus John Brandenberger with encouraging him to explore different types of research.

鈥淢oving across disciplines helped me put together a scientific vocabulary that has served me well thus far,鈥� Lowry said. 鈥淎long those lines, my research integrates biochemistry, biophysics, and engineering to create new tools for studying cell membranes. These technologies will help us answer fundamental questions about how cells fuse during development or viral infection.鈥�

The NSF fellowships are a point of pride for 麻豆影院 science faculty across the disciplines, Fleshman said. Having two recent graduates earn 2022 fellowships and three others get honorable mention status speaks to the breadth of STEM studies and research happening at 麻豆影院.

鈥淜atie Kitzinger approached her research with curiosity,鈥� Fleshman said. 鈥淚 enjoyed watching her tackle problems and was inspired every time she would bring me new insights into the data we were analyzing. I was so excited to hear, but not surprised, that she was awarded an NSF GRFP since she is already a rock star scientist.鈥�

Lowry, meanwhile, embraced every opportunity that came his way, Fleshman said.

鈥淚 had the pleasure of working with Gus his first year at 麻豆影院, measuring viscosities of ionic liquid systems to be used in battery materials, and I knew then that he was bound for great things,鈥� she said. 鈥淕us鈥檚 work now is in a completely different field from where he started, but that just shows how versatile of a scientist he is.鈥�

Brittany Alperin, assistant professor of psychology. She will be the inaugural holder of the Singleton Professorship in Cognitive Neuroscience. She comes from the University of Richmond, where she鈥檚 been a visiting assistant professor since 2019. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology and neuroscience from Hampshire College and a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from Oregon Health and Science University.

Sigma Col贸n, assistant professor of environmental and ethnic studies. She has been teaching at 麻豆影院 since 2017, first in postdoctoral NEH fellowships in geography and history, then as a visiting assistant professor of environmental and ethnic studies. She holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English and a master鈥檚 degree in history from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University.

Kelly Culhane, assistant professor of chemistry. She has been working as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota since 2019. She joins the Chemistry department after earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry from St. Olaf College and a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University.

Scott Dixon, assistant professor of philosophy. He has been on the faculty at Ashoka University in Haryana, India since 2015. He studied philosophy and German at the University of Montana and earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of California, Davis.

Amanda Draheim, assistant professor of psychology. She joins the Psychology department at 麻豆影院 after recently completing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Georgia State University. She previously earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from Trinity University.

Alex Heaton, assistant professor of mathematics. Beginning in 2019, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences and the Math+ Berlin Mathematics Research Center, both in Germany. He then joined the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences in Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow. He earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Margaret Koker, assistant professor of physics. She has been teaching in the Physics department at 麻豆影院 as a visiting assistant professor since 2018. She previously worked as a postdoctoral research fellow, a research assistant, and an engineering lecturer at Cornell University and as a Beamline scientist at the University of Chicago. She holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Boston University, a master鈥檚 from the University of Illinois, and her doctor rerum naturalium from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany.

Linnea Ng, assistant professor of psychology. She will be the inaugural holder of the Hurvis Professorship in Collaboration and Organizational Psychology at 麻豆影院. She is completing a Ph.D. in industrial organizational psychology at Rice University. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from Davidson College.

Kristin Roach, assistant professor of music (vocal coaching). Her recent accomplishments include work as a vocal coach at the Chautauqua Opera Theatre, conductor with the Pacific Opera Project, musical director and conductor with Spotlight on Opera, and conductor with Vocal Academy of Orvieto. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in applied piano and a master of music in piano performance/literature and accompanying/chamber music, both from Eastman School of Music.

Elizabeth Schlabach, associate professor of history. She comes to 麻豆影院 following eight years as a member of the faculty at Earlham College. She previously worked as a visiting professor for five years at The College of William & Mary. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history and theology from Valparaiso University, a master鈥檚 in American Studies from Lehigh University, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from St. Louis University.听

Endowed professorships

The hiring of Alperin as 麻豆影院鈥檚 first Singleton Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience and Ng as the first Hurvis Professor in Collaboration and Organizational Psychology marks a significant milestone in the Psychology department.

The two endowed positions came out of the hugely successful听Be the Light!听campaign that over the course of seven years raised $232.6 million and added five endowed professorships.

The Singleton professorship elevates 麻豆影院鈥檚 work in the area of cognitive neuroscience and the Hurvis professorship allows for the exploration of the psychology of collaboration, a growing field that has relevance across the curriculum as students prepare for life after 麻豆影院.听

Kodat called the filling of the two endowed positions 鈥渆specially gratifying,鈥� a tangible result of the听.

鈥淭hese positions鈥攊n organizational psychology and cognitive neuroscience鈥攚ill help advance the curricular innovation that was one of the centerpieces of the campaign,鈥� she said.

The 10 new faculty begin their first academic year when Fall Term opens Sept. 13.

鈥淚 look forward to a long and happy collaboration,鈥� Kodat said.

First-year students often come in wide-eyed, not sure what to expect, Debbert said. If that intro class in physics or chemistry or biology doesn鈥檛 light a fire, they may never come back. For students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, research has shown that that鈥檚 often been the case.

鈥淗aving a situation like this where we can emphasize the social aspect of science is so important,鈥� Debbert said. 鈥淧art of being a scientist is talking to other people and working together, putting stuff on the board, being wrong. It鈥檚 amazing how much of that attitude and emotional work we do in these science courses, but that鈥檚 a big part of the job.鈥�

Any student hoping to sleepwalk through an intro science class in the back of a sterile lecture hall may be a bit surprised. But the science faculty are betting that in the end it鈥檒l be a welcome surprise.

听鈥淲e鈥檙e pushing some of our students out of their comfort zones intentionally,鈥� Debbert said.

The room is now equipped with two massive projector screens, allowing the professor to use them for different purposes simultaneously. Each of the student tables have their own screens, connected to the big screens up front. Microphones at each table allow for easy interaction across the room. Document cameras give faculty new options for sharing materials. David Berk, director of instructional technology, has led the implementation of the equipment and guided faculty through a learning curve in how to utilize it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like flying an airplane up there,鈥� Beth De Stasio, the Raymond H. Herzog Professor of Science and professor of biology, said with a laugh. 鈥淭here are a lot of buttons to push. The technology is amazing.鈥�

Intro science classes are among the largest classes at 麻豆影院. This Fall Term,听Introduction to Chemistry听has 50 students.听Introduction to Physics听is closer to 70. The reconfigured Science Learning Commons can seat about 75 students if needed.

Faculty have long infused interactive elements into those intro classes. But doing so in a lecture hall not equipped for that interaction was often awkward or inefficient, De Stasio said.

Now the interaction is happening organically. It can be seen at the individual tables. No one is working solo. Discussions and debates are robust, and the ability for the professor to connect with each group is seamless.

鈥淭here鈥檚 this sharing that鈥檚 happening,鈥� De Stasio said. 鈥淏ut what鈥檚 really important about that is you鈥檙e getting each individual student, as much as possible, to think during class and not be a passive receiver of knowledge, but rather be a creator of understanding. That鈥檚 when learning is deeper, when it鈥檚 something you鈥檝e wrestled with yourself and not just been told. That is what scientists do.鈥�

De Stasio said lessons learned during the four terms of distance learning are finding their way into how the Science Learning Commons is being used. The individual table with the built-in technology is the in-person version of Zoom鈥檚 breakout room, she said.

鈥淚n terms of inclusion, I think it鈥檚 a huge step forward,鈥� De Stasio said. 鈥淲e can have students in groups, we easily monitor who is talking, who鈥檚 not; is anyone being left out? It becomes obvious right away.鈥�

Tracking student progress

How the students learn in this new environment will be tracked and studied. The HHMI grant includes follow-up, analyzing grade gaps and performance of underrepresented minority students and first-generation college students, studying whether students feel welcomed or engaged in those classes, whether they then aspire to take higher level STEM courses.

In other words, this is just the start, Debbert said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not posting the mission accomplished banner and saying we鈥檙e done,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e tracking everything we can think of.鈥�

Alex Rothstein, a senior biology and music performance double major, took two courses this term in the Science Learning Commons鈥攐ne was an upper-level biochemistry course, the other an听Introduction to Physics听course that had more than 70 students. 听

鈥淧hysics was the largest class on campus this term, but the classroom didn鈥檛 make it feel like that,鈥� he said.

The classroom setup is going to pay dividends for years to come because it changes the dynamics of those early science courses, which in the past could often be intimidating, Rothstein said.

鈥淏eing able to work in small pods enhanced my experience this term, as it started to feel like a small group versus a class of roughly 70,鈥� he said. 鈥淥verall, I feel like this classroom enhances students鈥� abilities to work together creatively without intimidation, which I feel is important for happiness and success in the sciences.鈥�

The classroom, designed with a hexagon motif that makes Debbert smile, is in use almost constantly. When classes aren鈥檛 in session, students are encouraged to use it for group study sessions or tutoring.

鈥淲e call it a Science Learning Commons because we want this to be a gathering place,鈥� Debbert said. 鈥淲e ask these students to work together during class and hopefully that carries over and they鈥檒l work together outside of class.鈥�