Professor and Director
Dr. Locke received her PhD in Geosciences from the University of Minnesota and has served as Director of the STEM Center since 2010. Previously, Dr. Locke served two years as Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, where she assisted in science teacher training and funding of STEM projects. From 2006 to 2008 she was a program director and cluster coordinator in the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings at the National Science Foundation. Dr. Locke has been Principal Investigator for numerous projects on effective STEM education, especially supporting increased participation of students with disabilities in science.
Andreia Dexheimer is a biologist interested in learning and education. Dr. Dexheimer was born and raised in Sao Luis, Brazil, and has always been passionate about nature and people. Her background includes degrees in Biology, Project Management, and Science Education. Her PhD research focused on animal learning, more specifically working with tropical bees in Florida and in collaboration with The Saint Louis Zoo. As an assistant research professor at the STEM Center she is expanding her research into human learning, asking questions on how people teach and learn science.
Assistant Research Professor
Assistant Research Professor
Charlie Blake grew up in the Midwest and then spent several years doing field ecology and environmental education in many different habitats across the country, from the montane forests of New Mexico to the Pacific coast. During their PhD studies at Texas State University Dr. Blake focused on behavioral ecology, but their interests have always spanned multiple disciplines. They received their BA from Earlham College in biology and studio art with a concentration in metal working. These days, Dr. Blake has a keen interest in studying how to make science education more inclusive.
Dawn has spent over 30 years working to support science education in both formal and informal settings. Her philosophy is simple: Everyone has something worth teaching, and there’s always more to learn.
Office Manager
Community Engagement Coordinator
Emily earned a bachelor of science in biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Master’s of science in zoology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She has 20 years of experience in informal education and most recently was responsible for the STEM initiative and robotics programs for Girl Scouts in southern Illinois. At the SIUE STEM Center, Emily focuses on building collaboration with community groups to create awareness and interest in STEM for all audiences.
Henriette Burns is a STEM education researcher with a focus in Math and Science Education. Currently based at Washington State University, Dr. Burns grew up in St. Louis. Her research interests include student STEM identity and STEM interest, and the infusion of empathy into engineering design, ethics, and community outreach. Henri holds a bachelor of science in engineering, a master’s of business administration with a focus in marketing and organizational behavior, and a master’s in teaching. She loves to solve problems and enjoys travel.
Adjunct Assistant Research Professor
Former STEM Center Graduate Assistants
Ozaveshe Paul Amune, Pratigyan Bhusal, Dwayne Ferguson, Josh Gifford, Margaret Lingane, Lily Ward, Elizabeth Wolk, Carolyne Banks, Olivia Middendorf, Suprasanna Aryal, Jacob Beardslee, Cristal Campocasso, Lisa Drennen, Christine Favilla, Jannatul Ferdous, Danielle Fischer, Manuel Gomez, Xander Kalna, Katrina LaCombe, Samantha Murphy, Aryaki Nagirddy, Juliana Okonya, Waleska Do Valle Santos, Clark Sturdevant, Morgan Tallman