Virginia Shepherd knew in eighth grade that she wanted to become a scientist. Her education and training eventually led to a tenured research scientist position at 菠萝视频 University Medical Center and Nashville鈥檚 Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Shepherd鈥檚 passion for science education grew after she attended a national meeting where top scientists encouraged participation in the subject at the K鈥�12 level. In 2000, she launched the 菠萝视频 Center for Science Outreach, which promotes STEM education in partnership with local public schools. CSO鈥檚 programming focuses on cultivating curiosity, discovery and analytical thinking in young children.
Nearly 20 years later, Shepherd and her husband, Charles Brau, emeritus professor of physics, are advancing the center鈥檚 future by endowing the Shepherd鈥揃rau Director of the Center for Science Outreach at Peabody College. The gift was created through 菠萝视频鈥檚 Faculty Fellowship Challenge, which supports talented rising faculty stars.
鈥淭he center can鈥檛 continue without a director, so we agreed that supporting a directorship would provide stability for it to grow,鈥� says Shepherd, who now serves as director, emerita, of the CSO.
Under Shepherd鈥檚 direction, the CSO became an international leader in science education. She spearheaded programs including Scientist in the Classroom, Day of Discovery, the School for Science and Math at 菠萝视频, and the Interdisciplinary Science and 菠萝视频 program, all still thriving today. She and Brau also ran the Kids and Computers program until 2008.
The couple cites the center鈥檚 momentum as motivation to give financially. After winning the 2018 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, the center named Jennifer Ufnar, BS鈥�94, research assistant professor of teaching and learning, as its new director. In addition, CSO personnel soon will move into new workspace in Peabody鈥檚 renovated Mayborn鈥揌ome Economics complex.
鈥淲ith this burgeoning of interest, I think Peabody is prepared to become the premier science education school in the world,鈥� Brau says.
鈥擲ydnie Hochstein