OHIO faculty selected for prestigious IMMERSE education research program

The University of South Carolina (USC) has selected Jacqueline Yahn, associate professor of middle childhood education at Ohio University Eastern, to participate as a fellow in the Institute for Measurement Methodology in Rural STEM Education (IMMERSE), a USC program funded by the National Science Foundation as part of their Building Capacity in STEM Education Research initiative.

Yahn was selected from a highly competitive applicant pool of rural scholars. Her acceptance letter commended her scholarly accomplishments and potential to produce quality research, which will contribute to a productive and successful Institute.

The Institute’s goal is to build the capacity of the U.S. rural research community, who have an interest in rural STEM education research, to develop sound measures to study concepts central to rural STEM education research, such as place-based education and community engagement. 

“Being selected as a fellow in the competitive IMMERSE program is an enormous accomplishment,” David Rohall, OHIO Eastern dean of campus and community relations, said. “I am overjoyed that Jacqueline has the opportunity to work with the best of the best through this program and further her impact on rural teacher education opportunities at Ohio University and in our region.”

Yahn will participate in a year-long training in measurement science that includes instruction, mentoring and feedback from IMMERSE core faculty and nationally recognized experts in measurement methodology and rural STEM education. During an initial three-day Summer Institute in July 2023, fellows will engage in hands-on working sessions in state-of-the-art methodology and will receive sustained mentoring with a methodological expert as they develop sound measures and design high-quality studies in rural STEM education that contribute to the field and result in tangible products.