UK's Margaret Mohr-Schroeder Elected President of the School Science and Mathematics Association
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 16, 2021) — Margaret Mohr-Schroeder has been elected president of the School Science and Mathematics Association. Her term will begin in 2022.
Mohr-Schroeder is a professor of STEM Education and associate dean for clinical preparation and partnerships at the University of Kentucky College of Education.
“The School Science and Mathematics Association is the world’s oldest STEM organization, dating back to 1901. I have been a member of SSMA since 2005 as a graduate student. The association’s efforts to build a community of leaders within and across STEM, advance knowledge through research and use that research to make an impact on our communities directly aligns with my career focus and passion. It will be an honor to serve as president and help advance the work of the association,” Mohr-Schroeder said.
In addition to hosting a national convention, the School Science and Mathematics Association produces a prominent journal, School Science and Mathematics Journal, and newsletter, the Mathematic-Science Connector. The association provides a unique and supportive community for mathematics, science and STEM faculty of all backgrounds and career goals to learn and generate new and innovative ideas.
“Dr. Mohr-Schroeder is a tremendous advocate for STEM Education, and her leadership, teaching and research expertise is a wonderful match with the School Science and Mathematics Association. As a member of that organization, I very much look forward to this next chapter,” said Jonathan Thomas, professor and chair, UK College of Education Department of STEM Education.
Mohr-Schroeder has been a faculty member in the UK College of Education since 2006. She began her career as a junior high, high school, community college and college mathematics instructor. During her time at UK, Mohr-Schroeder has been involved in over $19 million in external funding as principal investigator or co-principal investigator expanding transdisciplinary STEM Education through various initiatives. Her research interests include informal learning in STEM Education, preservice teacher preparation and transdisciplinary professional development.
“I believe that the next five years in education will be a moment of tremendous change and pivoting. I strongly believe that SSMA is situated well to respond to this moment of change. I look forward to working together with our membership, especially through networking, our scholarly work, advocacy and the community capacity we’ve built,” she said.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.