Meet the Team

Principal Investigator and UDC Facilitator
Jillian Wendt, EdD

• jillian.wendt@udc.edu
  
• CV
  

Dr. Jillian L. Wendt is an educator and researcher based in the Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. area who has worked in the field of education as a K-12 science educator, curriculum specialist, and university professor at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels for over almost two decades. Currently, she serves as tenured Associate Professor of Science Education in the Division of Education, Health, and Social Work, College of Arts & Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia.  She first studied at Virginia Commonwealth University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology. After discovering her passion as an educator, she earned a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning, Education Specialist in Teaching and Learning, and Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University. In addition to researching, leading grant projects, and teaching, Dr. Wendt serves an active role in the broader education community. Dr. Wendt’s areas of expertise and research interests include technology in education, distance and online learning, science education, STEM education, STEM mentoring, and teacher preparation. Dr. Wendt co-conceptualized the current project with Dr. Amanda Rockinson-Szapkiw. Dr. Wendt served as Principle Investigator in 2017 with the National Science Foundation Grants (No. 1717082) funding of the pilot project, leading the overall project and implementing the program at UDC. She serves as Principle Investigator for the current project, funded by the National Science Foundation Grants (Grant No. 1912205) and assisted with development of the peer mentoring program and training materials. She is the facilitator of the  Peer Mentoring Training Program at UDC.

Co-Principal Investigator and BCU Facilitator
Vivian O. Jones, PhD

• jonesv@cookman.edu
  

Vivian Jones is an educator and research based in Central Florida. She holds an M.S. degree in Counseling and Psychology and a doctoral degree in Mathematics Education. Dr. Jones began her career as a K-12 mathematic teacher and is now an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Bethune Cookman University. Her area of expertise lies in K-12 mathematics teaching, distance learning, data analysis, and mentoring college students in the STEM field, with research focusing on big data and underrepresented minority women in STEM.  She is the facilitator of the  Peer Mentoring Training Program at BCU.

Additional Personnel