Brickhouse, who was appointed interim director last summer, has been associate director of the school since 2002, overseeing the elementary teacher education program.
“Nancy Brickhouse brings a wealth of experience to this position, and I am confident that she will lead the team of outstanding faculty and staff to even greater heights,” Barnekov said. “Her expertise in science education will no doubt enhance the excellent collaboration that the School of Education maintains with local schools and enrich the experience of our students.”
Brickhouse described the new appointment as an honor and said the faculty in the school have been very supportive during her term as interim director.
“The work that we do here is socially important: We have a lot of big research projects that faculty are working on, and I'd like to see even more federally funded research projects, so that we have a bigger impact locally and nationally,” Brickhouse said. “The nice thing about the job is that I'm not walking into something that needs to be turned around. What I need to do is to take our strengths and build on them.”
Brickhouse said connections between UD's School of Education provide services to the schools while giving UD students hands-on experience.
“What was amazing to me was to read about all of the great work that our faculty are doing in local schools,” Brickhouse, who recently read faculty evaluations, said. “I would like to strengthen and expand those connections.”
During a recent trip to India, Brickhouse lectured on research in science education, the subject of her current research.
“I've been working on a project looking at levels of girls' engagement in science, particularly young girls and how they participate in science in school and out of school,” Brickhouse said. “One of the things I'm working on right now is that a lot of the gender differences in science have to do with what happens at an early age and the various opportunities available.”
Brickhouse said she is exploring the possibility of launching an online project for science discussions for girls, fashioned after book clubs.
“One of the problems that we have right now is that girls will do what is required if them, and that is only in school. What I'm interested in is voluntary interaction,” Brickhouse said.
Brickhouse, who grew up Texas, joined the UD faculty as assistant professor of science education in 1988. In 1991 Brickhouse was a visiting fellow at University of Leeds in England. In 1994 Brickhouse was appointed associate professor of science education with tenure, a position she held until her promotion to associate director in 2002.
Brickhouse received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Baylor University in 1982. She earned her master's degree in chemistry and doctorate in science education from Purdue University in 1986 and 1988, respectively.
Before joining UD, Brickhouse was a lecturer, course supervisor and teaching assistant in Purdue University's Department of Chemistry and a student teaching supervisor in the Department of Education from 1984-88. She taught chemistry, physics and physical science in the Van Independent School District in Texas from 1983-1984.
Article by Martin Mbugua
Photo by Sarah Simon