Fellows Directory

Displaying 1 - 13 of 13
Headshot of Angie Beasley.

Angela Beasley

Current Fellow
Computer Science
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Improving Teaching and Learning

Angie Beasley is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Computer Science department at UT, where she teaches Data Mining. Prior to teaching, Angie worked for 15 years as a software engineer on projects for the US Navy, including submarine sonar systems, periscope systems, unmanned underwater vehicles, radar systems, and radio and satellite communication systems. Angie received her MS in Computer Science with a concentration in Machine Learning from The George Washington University and her BS in Computer Science from The University of Texas at Austin.

 

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Kasia Dinkeloo

Current Fellow
Molecular Biosciences
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College of Natural Sciences

Kasia Dinkeloo is an Assistant Professor of Practice within the CNS Freshman Research Initiative. She runs the 'Bioprospecting2.0' stream, an undergraduate research lab focusing on the search for plastic-degrading microbes and enzymes from novel sources. As an educator, Kasia is interested in engaging students in the practice of science and technical writing.

Headshot of Layla Guyot.

Layla Guyot

Current Fellow
Statistics and Data Sciences
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Experiential Learning
Undergraduate Research

Layla Guyot is a data scientist, educator, and researcher, who joined UT Austin during Fall 2020. After pursuing mathematics and physics in undergrad, Layla completed a M.S. in Applied Probability and Statistics, just by chance. She gained some experience as a statistician before combining her aspiration to teach and conduct research through her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education at Texas State University. Her research focuses on designing courses and developing curriculum materials to promote authentic practices and ease the transition to the workplace.

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Thushani Herath

Current Fellow
Chemistry
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College of Natural Sciences

Thushani Herath is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Chemistry. Since joining UT in 2016, she has designed and taught multiple Analytical Chemistry laboratory courses. Her teaching emphasizes real-world applications, fostering meaningful connections between hands-on experiences and student understanding.

A woman wearing black glasses and a yellow blouse smiles while standing outside.

Laura I Gonzalez

Current Fellow
Biology
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Curriculum (Re)design
Improving Teaching and Learning
Student Success
Student Wellbeing

I am currently an Associate Professor of Instruction in the BIO Instructional Office and the Department of Integrative Biology. I love the challenge of conveying to my students a profound understanding of the basic concepts, principles and theories within a given subject. I particularly have enjoyed teaching ecology, research methods, and introduction to biology at the undergraduate level. I really enjoy the opportunity of mentoring undergraduate students.

A headshot of Karen M Landolt, a white woman with dark brown hair and glasses, smiling in a red button up shirt.

Karen M Landolt

Current Fellow
Computer Science
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College of Natural Sciences
McCombs School of Business
Initiative Focus
Experiential Learning
Peer Education

Karen Landolt is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Business, Government and Society Department and in the Department of Computer Science. She teaches Business Law, Behavioral Ethics, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property Law, and Negotiations. Her courses have a service-learning component, allowing students to use real-life problems and tasks to increase cultural awareness, learning, and retention. She previously received a Course-developer Award (2020-2022) from the Provost Experiential-Learning Initiative.

 

Head and torso of Jonathan Perry, a white man with brown hair and a brown goatee, standing on front of a brick wall.

Jonathan Perry

Current Fellow
Physics
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Improving Teaching and Learning
Institutional Resource

Jonathan Perry is a Texas native who, after completing his BA and MS in physics at Baylor University and his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, has managed to stick around the state. For his doctoral work he found himself with an unexpected passion for teaching and learning in his field, and so he focused on physics education research. He joined the faculty at UT Austin in 2019 as an Assistant Professor of Instruction.

Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with long straight hair and glasses, wearing a patterned dress with hands in pockets.

Sally Ragsdale

Current Fellow
Statistics and Data Sciences
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College of Natural Sciences

Sally Ragsdale has been teaching for the Department of Statistics and Data Science since 2013. Before coming to UT, she worked in the transportation research industry as a data scientist. After earning her M.S. in Statistics, she began working for UT as a statistical consultant and served in that role for 6 years before transitioning to a full-time professional track faculty member. Sally is currently the SDS undergraduate minor/certificate faculty advisor and the course coordinator for SDS 320E Elements of Statistics.

person in blue sweater

Shelly Rodriguez

Current Fellow
UTeach-Natural Sciences
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Mentorship

Shelly Rodriguez is a Professor of Practice and instructor for the UTeach program in The College of Natural Sciences. She also directs UTeach Maker, a micro-credentialing program that helps preservice teachers bring innovative, project-based maker practices into their STEM classrooms. As a PTF, she is passionate about improving the career experiences of professional faculty at UT Austin.

Headshot of Ruth Shear.

Ruth Shear

Current Fellow
Chemistry
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Skill-Building
Student Success

Ruth Shear is a Professor of Practice in the Chemistry Department, and a Research Educator of the Urban Ecosystems research stream in the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI). After a PhD in Chemical Physics from Griffith University (Australia) and postdoctoral work at Stanford and Cornell, she started as a lecturer at UT Austin in 1996. After running the physical and analytical chemistry teaching labs for 10 years, she helped create FRI in 2006. She has been teaching Research Methods in various forms ever since.

Headshot of Stacy Sparks.

Stacy Sparks

Current Fellow
Molecular Biosciences
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Inclusive Teaching and Learning
Student Success

Stacy Sparks is a Professor of Instruction in the Molecular Biosciences Department and the Biology Instructional Office. She serves on the Core Curriculum Advisory Committee and has been actively involved in the TX Mindset Initiative Fellowship and its follow-up project, “Mindset Matters for Student Success.” Previously, Stacy directed the Chemistry Learning Assistant Program, where she oversaw an experiential learning opportunity for 80 undergraduate students each semester, helping them develop teaching and leadership skills.

image of a white woman with dark brown hair, looking directly at the camera and smiling.

Gwendolyn Stovall

Current Fellow
Freshman Research Initiative
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Mentorship
Skill-Building
Student Success

For the last 10+ years, Gwen Stovall has worked as a biochemist and aptamer researcher in the CNS Freshman Research Initiative, where she leads a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) to identify aptamers, understand the underlying mechanisms and parameters of aptamer selections, and investigate aptamer specificity. As an educator, Gwen is committed to student empowerment and success, and seeks to improve student outcomes by mentoring, teaching, challenging, and engaging students.

Headshot of Ann Thijs.

Ann Thijs

Current Fellow
Biology
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College of Natural Sciences
Initiative Focus
Skill-Building

Ann, originally from Belgium, earned graduate degrees in both engineering and ecology. She is deeply committed to undergraduate education and enjoys teaching students about the interconnectedness of the natural world, emphasizing evolutionary and ecological perspectives. Her goal is to help students develop critical thinking and quantitative skills, evident in her courses in introductory biology and upper division ecology.