NMC3 NMSU Team
Dr. Wanda Bulger-Tamez
Dr. Wanda Bulger-Tamez is the Director for the STEM Outreach Center. Dr. Bulger-Tamez has been working with math and science initiatives for 20+ years. She has taught elementary, middle school, developmental Algebra, and Math for Elementary Teachers at the university level. She has served as principal investigator for Mathematically Connected Communities and MC 2 LIFT, Project Director for the Gadsden Math Initiative, Project Coordinator for the Austin Collaborative for Math Education, both of which were Local Systemic Initiatives, and served on the Advisory Board of the NSF Discovery Research K-12 program, Teachers’ Use of Standards-based Instructional Materials . Her roles and responsibilities include overseeing contracts, proposals, personnel, and budgets for all programs. Wanda is masterful at nourishing partnerships and loves working along side teachers and school leaders to create systems for strengthening children’s learning in STEM field.
Dr. Christipher A. Aiken
Dr. Christopher A. Aiken is a behavioral scientist with specializations in cognitive performance and human movement. Dr. Aiken’s research explores the effects of various practice manipulations on motor skill performance and learning. Dr. Aiken’s work has been published in highly respected journals like Experimental Brain Research, Journal of Sports Sciences, and Human Movement Science. Dr. Aiken has also won various awards from the American Kinesiology Association and the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity.
Dr. Jeanne Brown
Dr. Jeanne Brown is an early childhood educator who has taught preK for 25 years and continues to do so for the last 14 at the NMSU School for Young Children. She also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses through NMSU TPAL. Jeanne completed her Ph.D. in May 2018 with a dissertation study on grandparents providing childcare for their grandchildren. Her research interests include multi-generational literacy, adventurous play, and children’s geography.
Dr. Lauren Cifuentes
Dr. Lauren Cifuentes is a College Professor in the Educational Design and Learning Technologies program at NMSU where she teaches Critical Digital Literacy, Technology and Pedagogy; Foundations of Learning Design; and Design and Development Research to graduate students who are primarily early preK-16 teachers. Her expertise lies in distance learning, cognition, and learning design. Prior to her position at NMSU she directed distance learning initiatives at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She has conducted countless workshops on technology applications for K-12 teachers in schools and university courses and has over 100 publications primarily focused on distance learning
Dr. Mary L. Fahrenbruck
Dr. Mary L. Fahrenbruck, is an associate professor in the School of Teacher Preparation, Education and Leadership at NMSU. She uses mixed methods to investigate literacy resources (quality of text), strategies (comprehending texts), and opportunities (acquiring texts) that educators can use to provide Access to Literacy for all. Dr. Fahrenbruck documents her scholarly work in peer-reviewed journals, at professional conferences and through community outreach and service. She is member of NCT, ILA, LLA and serves on the executive board of the Worlds of Words: Center of Global Literacies and Literature.
Dr. Karim Martinez
Dr. Karim Martinez is an Extension Family Life Specialist in the department of Extension Family and Consumer Sciences. Prior to her current position she spent 14 years as a County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and County Program director in Doña Ana County. She has degrees in Family and Child Science and Sociology, a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration, and is a Certified Family Life Educator. Her Extension programs focus on strengthening interpersonal relationships and promoting the understanding of human development across the lifespan.
Dr. Barbara Chamberlin
Dr. Barbara Chamberlin is director of the Learning Games Lab in NMSU’s Innovative Media Research and Extension department. Her Ph.D. is in instructional technology, and her research contributes to the design of effective interactive media. She has been developing educational products for 25 years including video, web-based learning, distance learning, and computer-based learning and traditional instruction.
Dr. Angela Owens
Angela Owens holds a Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning, & Culture with an emphasis in Literacy & Bi-Literacy Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also has dual Master’s Degrees as an Instructional Specialist in Early Childhood and in Educational Administration. Dr. Owens works with early childhood and special education teacher candidates at New Mexico State University and is the Director of the Glass Family Research Institute for Early Childhood Studies. Her research focuses on caregiver experiences with the special education process, early childhood education, and inclusivity for all children. Her experiences range from teaching in daycare, elementary settings, and special education environments. She was also a professional development consultant, a liaison for families who have children with special needs, and an elementary campus administrator. Her expertise lies in collaborating with stakeholders in education and surrounding local communities as well as using qualitative and quantitative data to create, develop, and implement innovative programs that meet the needs of children, families, teachers, and the community living in the borderland.
Terrri Stockberger
Teresa Sainz
Teresa Sainz has K-12 teaching experience in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. She has also served as a school and district-level administrator. Terri manages the websites for Mathematically Connected Communities (MC²) and the STEM Outreach Center. In addition, she coordinates professional learning events, online meetings, webinar/video productions, and presentations/publications. Her role is essential in providing network opportunities for teachers and school leaders.
STEM Outreach/MC 2 Staff and Faculty
STEM Outreach/MC 2 staff and faculty from the Colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences have nearly 20 years of experience in designing and facilitating professional learning in effective mathematics and science teaching and learning through summer institutes, classroom-based support, webinars, and Zoom workshops. The staff are skilled in the delivery of online professional learning and have been partnering with teachers in Las Cruces and Gadsden to deliver inquiry-based science and mathematics summer camps and after-school STEM programs.
- Sara Morales, STEM Outreach Center, Associate Director
smorales@nmsu.edu - Michelle Sterling Rodriguez, Math Education Specialist
misterli@nmsu.edu - Megan Kidwell, Math Education Specialist
mk@nmsu.edu - Allie Conway
apconway@nmsu.edu - Stella Otoo, Graduate Assistant