Center Goals

The STEM Education Center serves as a central point for promoting and advancing STEM education across Indiana. Through youth programs, community partnerships, and faculty-led research, we expand opportunities for students and families to engage with STEM from elementary through college.

 

Elementary students use pipettes under college teaching student supervision

Expand the Number of Future STEM Educators

Indiana and the nation face a critical shortage of qualified STEM teachers. The STEM Education Center is committed to growing the number of science education majors at Ball State and preparing them with the skills, confidence, and real-world experience needed to excel in today’s middle and high school classrooms. Our science teacher preparation programs emphasize hands-on learning, classroom innovation, and mentorship, equipping graduates to make an immediate impact in schools.

High School students in lab coats

Strengthen School and Community Partnerships

STEM education thrives when schools, families, and communities work together. The center collaborates with K–12 educators and leaders to design engaging programs, such as summer STEM camps, family STEM nights, and professional development workshops. These initiatives enrich student learning and give teachers the resources and support to strengthen STEM pathways from the classroom to college and careers.

Advance STEM Education Scholarship

The center supports faculty affiliates and working groups who are pushing the boundaries of STEM education research. By securing external funding, publishing in peer-reviewed outlets, and connecting scholarship with teaching practice, we create a culture where innovation drives student success. Our scholarship is not limited to the academic community; it informs policy, shapes curriculum, and builds evidence-based strategies that benefit classrooms across Indiana.

Preparing future STEM teachers. Building community partnerships. Advancing research.

Our Mission

To expand access to high-quality STEM teaching, prepare the next generation of outstanding STEM teachers, and position Ball State as a state and national leader in STEM education.

Who We Are

The STEM Education Center is a hub for training, research, and outreach, and involves an interdisciplinary network of faculty. We prepare future science teachers, engage families and schools through STEM initiatives, and connect faculty and students in collaborative research. By integrating teaching, outreach, and scholarship, the center builds a thriving STEM community that shapes Indiana’s future.

Dr. Andrew Gatza, Director of the STEM Education Center, brings expertise in mathematics education research focused on student learning and classroom practices. He holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education and Urban Education Studies. His research centers on developing classroom experiences that support students’ reasoning, foster positive mathematical identities, and create engaging learning environments. He is also co-founder/co-director of the Young Mathematicians X-Ploration Summer Camp, serves as the Secondary Mathematics Professional Development School Liaison to Muncie Community Schools, and is the co-editor of the Indiana Mathematics Teacher. 

Contact Us

STEM Education Center

CS 330
Ball State University

8 a.m.-5 p.m.

765-285-4377