MMSA Title: STEM Education Specialist
Hometown: South Portland
Education: BS – Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University; PhD – Biophysics and Structural Biology, Brandeis University
Something you’re proud of at MMSA: Staff dedication to their jobs
STEM passion area: Innovative tools and programs that allow teachers and students to engage in authentic experiences and use their creativity as they learn about the world around them.
What do you like most about your role at MMSA: Flexibility, ability to be creative and connecting with people across the state
What did you do before you worked at MMSA: Prior to MMSA, I worked at the University of Southern Maine as the interim director of the Ci2 Concept Research Lab, a creative projects and innovation space for students, faculty and the community. I led design thinking workshops and supported students with projects ranging from virtual reality video games, to a 3D printed prosthetic grip aid. Before moving to Maine, I was a curriculum and professional development specialist for The Education Arcade at MIT where I worked on the content, design and pilot research for The Radix Endeavor, a multiplayer online game tied to math and biology standards.
What do you like to do in your free time: I enjoy adventures with my husband and two daughters and planting too many tomatoes in the garden every summer.
Susannah’s Bio: Susannah joined MMSA in January of 2020 and primarily serves as a designer on STEMports. Trained as a lab scientist, she transitioned to education when she realized that her true enthusiasm lay in finding ways to teach and excite people about all things STEM related. She is particularly interested in innovative tools and programs that allow teachers and students to engage in authentic experiences and use their creativity as they learn about the world around them.
Prior to MMSA, she worked at the University of Southern Maine as the interim director of the Ci2 Concept Research Lab, a creative projects and innovation space for students, faculty and the community. She led design thinking workshops and supported students with projects ranging from virtual reality video games, to a 3D printed prosthetic grip aid. Before moving to Maine, she was a curriculum and professional development specialist for The Education Arcade at MIT where she worked on the content, design and pilot research for The Radix Endeavor, a multiplayer online game tied to math and biology standards.
Publications:
“Rosenheck, L., Clarke-Midura, J., Gordon-Messer, S., & Klopfer, E. (2017). Tipping the Scales: Classroom Feasibility of the Radix Endeavor Game. In Serious Games and Edutainment Applications (pp. 225-258). Springer International Publishing
Rosenheck, L., Gordon-Messer, S., Clarke-Midura, J., & Klopfer, E. (2016). Design and Implementation of an MMO: Approaches to Support Inquiry Learning with Games. In D. Russell, & J. Laffey (Eds.) Handbook of Research on Gaming Trends in P-12 Education (pp. 33-54). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-9629-7.ch002”
Phone: (207) 626-3230 x105
Email: all emails are first initial last name at mmsa.org
Projects:
