Alicia Alonzo, Michigan State University associate professor of teacher education, was among 101 other scientists, researchers and educators who recently received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from former President Barack Obama.
The award is the highest bestowed by the U.S. government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Additional award considerations include a recipient’s dedication to community service and outreach, public education and tackling scientific challenges.
“This award is a tremendous honor that recognizes the very important contributions of [Alonzo’s] research in science education,” said Ann Austin, associate dean for research in the College of Education and a former program officer at NSF. “We are so pleased to have Dr. Alonzo at MSU, working with many other talented scholars to improve teaching and learning at all levels of education in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
The 2017 recipients are either employed or funded by various national and governmental departments. As part of the MSU Department of Teacher Education, Alonzo is currently funded by the National Science Foundation for “CAREER: Redesigning a Learning Progression to Build Upon Students’ Intuitive Ideas about Motion and Support Teachers’ Formative Assessment Practices.” The results from the CAREER grant’s four-part study will guide curricula revisions for the MSU College of Education Teacher Preparation Program.