Dr. Pat Shane told me in the mid-2000s as an NCSLA fellow that exemplary science leaders never hold onto to leadership for only themselves. Instead, great science leaders find ways to generate and/or distribute experiences for reluctant or emerging leaders; providing them guided opportunities to strengthen leadership and become independent and confident leaders. I have held that advice close to heart then and today as I work as a science leader.

• Why did you join NSELA and what are you most looking forward to as a member?

I joined NSELA having been a member of NCSLA and an NCSLA fellow. I particularly enjoy being part of a greater network of like-minded science education leaders.

• What advice do you have for those pursuing science leadership?

Find novel opportunities to grow your knowledges, skills, and dispositions in science leadership. In those spaces, identify and recruit mentors to ensure your success and cultivate those relationships so you can call upon your mentors when you need them.

• How do your hobbies outside of science leadership contribute to your professional life?

In lieu of hobbies, I spend any free time with my family and my dogs. I find that “down time” invaluable to recharge and reengage with the hard work of being an advocate.

• Fill in the blank. I couldn’t be successful in science leadership without ____. Why?

Mentors. Mentors are the linchpin for successful endeavor to recruit and retain individuals so they may nurture their knowledge for and skills in leadership.

• How do you get to know your colleagues/students and build relationships with them? What questions do you ask or what actions do you take?

Time and transparency are two strategies in how I build relationships and engender trust with teams I am leading. I make sure the work is clearly stated and readily available with multiple opportunities for input and refereeing the process from the group.

• What are you reading for enjoyment?

My sister just sent me Buddha's Brain by Rick Hanson to better cultivate a calm mind through meditation and mindfulness.

• Can you describe your current leadership role in your district?

At Texas Tech University, in addition to serving as an associate professor of STEM education, I am the program director for both an academic and leadership program. I have also served as the associate department chair of Curriculum & Instruction since 2022 and as associate director in the Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education (CIRCLE).

• Tell me about your background in science education before your current role (teaching, degrees, etc.)

I received my B.S. in Biology and M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and taught nine years with the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools. After serving as a Congressional Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow in Washington D.C., I worked as a graduate research assistant at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University. Upon graduating with my doctorate in science education, I moved to Lubbock, Texas, as a research professor in the department of Curriculum & Instruction.

• What has been a success of your leadership in your district that you are proud of? What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of being the founding director of the Education Policy Fellowship Program for the state of Texas. Over five years, we have served 68 education leaders in developing and refining their policy knowledge, advocacy-focused leadership, and networks to make tangible impacts in their professional contexts and communities.

• What has been a challenge for you as a leader?

Collaborating with individuals who are obstinately resistant to necessary and agreed upon changes.

• In addition to your leadership role in your district, what other leadership activities are you involved with? (e.g. publications, presentations, professional association involvement, volunteer work, etc.)

I have 125 presentations and 75 publications in both practitioner and research venues; these include but are not limited to the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), the Association for Science Teaching Associate (ASTE), National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), the International Journal of Science Education (IJSE), and School Science in Mathematics (SSM). I was/am on the editorial boards for the Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST) and IJSE. In 2024, I began my term as an associate editor for the Journal of Science Teacher Education (JSTE).

• Who are some of the leaders in education who have inspired you and how have they inspired you?

I am inspired by leaders who lead by example, taking on the hard work and make the hard decisions to ensure success for the greater good. They also are willing to mentor individuals who are unaware of the great leader that lies within them. For me, some examples of those mentors are Dr. Pat Shane, Dr. Gail Jones, and Dr. Darlene Ryan.

• As a lifelong learner, what are you most interested in learning more about?

I love learning languages, so I am planning to learn American Sign Language this year.

• What advice do you have for science educators who want to step into leadership roles?

Get involved in the work and get to know and support the individuals who are leading in that work. By taking this type of initiative, it becomes evident your interests and investments in the organization and its efforts. Leadership would, then, be the next logical step as leaders take notice and encourage you to take on new or expanded roles.

• What do you do for personal enjoyment outside of your professional life (family, hobbies, travel, anything you want to share!)

Since I conduct research on virtual, augmented, and mixed realities, I enjoy playing video games on my PlayStation 5 and PSVR.