Devan Jones, Ph.D.

Devan earned her Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with a focus on science education from Clemson University in August 2024. Originally from Wyoming, she holds a bachelor's in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming and a master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University, both with a specialization in Creative Arts. Her professional experience spans teaching in various grades and subjects, including STEM, technology facilitation, and reading recovery. Devan is also active in educational research, with work specifically focusing on multiple facets of rural education.

Devan  is currently a postdoc funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) STEM Education Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (STEM Ed PRF) Program solicitation (22-531) through the development of Institute for Measurement MEthodology in Rural STEM Education-Postdoctoral Research Fellows program (IMMERSE-PRF), a comprehensive, innovative program for training postdoctoral researchers to actively engage in STEM education research. IMMERSE-PRF implements a two-year training program for two rural postdoctoral scholars, to produce transdisciplinary scholars who are: well-positioned to study rural STEM education and workforce development; to measure and address barriers and protective factors unique to and/or operant within rural communities as it relates to STEM education and workforce development; and, able to conduct high-quality, rigorous studies in STEM education and workforce development to influence local, state, and/or federal policy and practice.Devan is passionate about project management and curriculum development for rural areas. She is particularly interested in creating educational solutions tailored to rural communities and fostering connections between rural institutions.

Email: Devanj@mailbox.sc.edu

Elise M. Lorenzo, Ph.D.

Elise M. Lorenzo is a social and educational researcher who integrates geospatial mathods, participatory approaches, and community engagement to examine place-based learning and educational equity in coastal and now rural contexts. She earned all three of her degrees from the University of Central Florida, including a Ph.D. in Sociology, an M.A. in Applied Sociology, and a B.A. in Marketing and Event Planning. Her professional experience centers on informal STEM education, where she played a key operational role in developing a mobile learning lab and a recurring summer institute for students, both grounded in geospatial technologies and designed to expand access to hands-on, place-based learning opportunities.

Elise is currently a postdoctoral researcher funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) STEM Education Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (STEM Ed PRF) Program solicitation (22-531) through the development of the Institute for Measurement MEthodology in Rural STEM Education–Postdoctoral Research Fellows (IMMERSE-PRF) program, a comprehensive and innovative initiative for training postdoctoral researchers to actively engage in STEM education research. IMMERSE-PRF implements a two-year training program for rural postdoctoral scholars designed to produce transdisciplinary researchers who are: well-positioned to study rural STEM education and workforce development; to measure and address barriers and protective factors unique to and/or operant within rural communities as they relate to STEM education and workforce development; and able to conduct high-quality, rigorous studies in STEM education and workforce development to influence local, state, and federal policy and practice.

Elise brings together a unique mix of research, outreach, and coordination skills that allow her to move fluidly between academic and community-focused work. Her research is grounded in collaboration and driven by a commitment to making data and science accessible, actionable, and impactful for rural communities.

Email: Elorenzo@mailbox.sc.edu

Brian Cartiff, Ph.D.

Brian Cartiff is a research assistant professor at the Yvonne & Schuyler Moore Child Development Research Center. He holds a Doctorate in Education with a focus in the Learning Sciences and Psychological Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research interests concern epistemic cognition and public understanding of science. He is also currently studying teacher working conditions in South Carolina. He was a public high school science teacher for over 20 years.

Svetlana Dmitrieva, Ph.D.

Svetlana Dmitrieva is a research assistant professor at the Yvonne & Schuyler Moore Child Development Research Center. She holds a Doctorate in Gifted Education from the University of Virginia. Her research interests include achievement motivation, gifted education in rural schools, and rural education more broadly. 

Ross Ramsey, Ph.D.

Ross Ramsey was previously a postdoctoral scholar in the Institute for Measurement Methodology in Rural STEM Education (IMMERSE) program in the College of Education. He received his Ph.D. in Education from the Learning Sciences and Psychological Studies program in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ross taught informal science education programs at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for five years before becoming a high school math teacher in rural North Carolina.

Ross’s research interests primarily center around equity in both formal and informal STEM learning settings, though he is also interested in the application of advanced statistical analysis approaches in other educational research contexts.