Center Director

Shelly Heller, PhD

Professor Shelly Heller's research interest is in the area of computers in educational settings and the impact of interactive multimedia on learning in these environments. Expanding on her concerns for learning environments are her long-standing efforts to bring and retain women to areas in Science, Engineering, Math and Technology (STEM). Of particular interest is how students learn to use educational software, including the development of courseware for new application areas, the integration of the computer into existing educational settings and public spaces and in-service and pre-service teacher training.

Her efforts in women’s leadership include her research grants and her role as the director of the Elizabeth Somers Women's Leadership Program. Dr. Heller is the co-principal investigator of many National Science Foundation grants. The first, "Bringing Young Minority Women to the Threshold of Science," is designed to raise the interest of young women to studies in science and engineering. The second, "TEAMSS, Teacher Enhanced Application for Middle School Science with Hypermedia," is designed to enable teachers to use and re-use videodisc technology in their classrooms. FORWARD in SEM is a focus on reaching women for academics, research and development in Science, Engineering and Mathematics. It is an implementation project for the recruitment and retention of women in advanced science, engineering and mathematics careers in conjunction with Professors Catherine Mavriplis (University of Ottawa) and Paul Sabila (Gallaudet University). The work is presented in their FORWARD to Professorship: Inclusive Faculty Development Strategies that Work (Elsevier Press, 2015)

Dawn Ginnetti

Dawn brings her experiences as a graduate of an all-women's college (Smith College) and a Master's Degree in Higher Education as well as working at a similar center at the University of Maryland. Dawn has been a Professional Student Advisor at GW in SEAS for the past few years and in that role has helped Dr. Heller develop the Unconscious Bias training that was offered to the SEAS faculty and staff.