WVU Foundational STEM Collaborative

Today is the first of three days of commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2026 this weekend! We want to congratulate all of those graduating for their hard work and send well wishes as they get ready to move into their next chapter of life.

We especially want to congratulate our nine graduating Learning Consultants from the STEM Learning Center! Their unwavering support of their fellow students these past two years is something we in the Foundational STEM Collaborative are extremely grateful for.

Graduates, we cannot wait to see all the good you put into the world! Let's Go Mountaineers!

With the 2025-2026 school year ending, we at the Foundational STEM Collaborative want to take a moment and reflect on the growth of the last two school years. In 2023-2024, the Foundational STEM Collaborative was launched and focused on working with departments and faculty to update the math pathways and planning what would become the student-focused programming we wanted to offer.

In September 2024 we opened the doors of the STEM Learning Center to you all and began providing learning consultations in math and chemistry, as well as academic and professional development workshops and STEM Events to participate in. When we first started, we could not imagine the level of growth we have seen these past two school years! Science is all about forward progression and growth in understanding and knowledge. We cannot wait to keep growing and learning with you all!👩‍🔬👨‍🔬

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We made it! Today is the last day of classes for the spring semester!!!!

We want to take the time to let you know that the STEM Learning Center will be open from 10-5 each day next week so you can study for finals! With that, there will NOT be any learning consultations in the learning center so that our learning consultants can study for their finals! Snacks and coffee will be out and available while they last!

Good luck on your finals!👩‍🔬👨‍🔬🎊🎉

We are coming to the end of the semester 😢 But that doesn't mean we still can't have a little fun before finals! Join us next Wednesday, April 29th at 5:30 in the STEM Learning Center for a general themed Team Trivia Night open to all students! Bring your friends, relax, have fun, and enjoy some pizza and snacks! There will be a prize for the winning team! Please RSVP using the link in our bio to ensure enough food is purchased.

For our final Faculty Spotlight of the semester, we would like to spotlight Dr. Paul Miller of the Physics and Astronomy Department! Paul teaches a few foundational physics courses, where he gets to introduce the building blocks that all of physics rests on. When he is not teaching, you can catch him birding or working on small woodshop projects.

As a lifelong learner, Dr. Miller really enjoys the process of seeing students find enjoyment in what they are learning. He did note that a few things he has seen get in the way of that enjoyment are when students fall behind and are afraid to make mistakes. Mistakes are a part of the learning process, don't be afraid to try and not get things right! Not getting things correct helps us know what doesn't work and how to work toward the right way!

It is our final Consultant Connection for the year! This week we would like to spotlight Sydney Troup. Sydney has consulted with us in Physics since the spring of 2025. After graduating, Sydney hopes to continue her education by going to graduate school.

As a physics major, she finds great joy in assisting students in their introductory physics courses. When asked to give students a piece of advices Sydney stated, "Come into the center as soon as possible! The sooner you come in the more time you will have to work through and understand the material." The consultants at the STEM Learning are here to help and starting early will allow you to stay ahead and not fall behind!

Next Tuesday, April 14th we will be holding an Alumni Panel with former WVU students that are now working in different areas of Healthcare! Have questions about what the journey is like and want more information on some of the options out there? Join us from 5:00-6:30 In Room 152 of the Chemistry Research Laboratory Building (the STEM Learning Center)! Light refreshments will be provided! RSVP using the link in our Bio!

This week we would like to introduce Dr. Jennifer Ripley Stueckle, a Teaching Professor in the Department of Biology. Dr. Stueckle teaches Biol 101 as well as Biol 454. While Dr. Stueckle was born in Massachusetts, she ultimately spent part of her childhood in Hurricane, WV where she graduated high school. When she is not on the beach, she enjoys watching classic musical movies (think Singin' in the Rain), she especially LOVES anything with Gene Kelly!

As a teacher, Dr. Stueckle loves learning and the lessons taught to students, but also what the students can teach her! During her time teaching, she noted that a common pitfall students fall into would only being studying for the exams. Studying to pass exams is not the same as truly learning and mastering the material. Without mastering the material, students often struggle making connections between topics that can seem otherwise completely unrelated, and it means they are not getting the most out of class time.

Dr. Cody Hood, teaching assistant professor in the School of Mathematical and Data Sciences at the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, was one of four University faculty honored for their commitment to impactful instruction this year.

From all of us at the Foundational STEM Collaborative, we thank Dr. Hood for his dedication to his students and congratulate him on this much-deserved award!

Read more at https://enews.wvu.edu/articles/2026/04/01/faculty-members-recognized-as-2026-foundation-outstanding-teachers.

Say hello to this week's Consultant Connection: Katherine Morris. Katherine is a consultant for Math 121, 122, 124, and 150. As an exercise physiology major, Katherine keeps herself busy as she hopes to become a physician in an ER one day.

Katherine knows what it is like to need some assistance from time to time and offered up the following advice, "Never be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions is the best way to make sure you learn and understand the concept." Questions are central to progress to scientific endeavor.