T98 Celebrating the Role of Heather Macdonald in Geoscience Education in Two-Year Colleges I

Monday, 23 September 2019
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room 102AB, West Building

HEATHER MACDONALD: A POSITIVE IMPACT FACTOR INFLUENCING PERSISTENCE AND SUCCESS IN THE GEOSCIENCES

Paper number: T98-5
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Authors

Abstract

Positive impact factors that are associated with increased diversity and persistence in STEM fields include authentic science engagement, role models, mentors and mentoring, a community of support, and professional development, among others (Johnson, A., 2016). Heather Macdonald embodies all of these positive factors, and undoubtingly, has played a significant role in inspiring and connecting many emerging geoscientists to the broader geoscience community. Heather is a wise instructor, serving as a role model to many young geoscientists. She models effective teaching practices, offers career advice, shares career opportunities, and provides access to and leads professional development. Heather assists in creating pathways to becoming a geoscientist and works diligently to help prepare and provide experiences to continue to support geoscience faculty, including her work with the Early Career program. Her work has been especially notable among the two-year college community, where her innovation on developing the SAGE projects led to a national network of engaged 2YC faculty. Other specific examples of how she has positively impacted the 2YC community will be shared, as will the impact she has had on individuals from undergraduate years with Heather as an instructor to now experiences with Heather as colleague.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2019AM-339809

© Copyright 2019 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.