History

The Origins of the Science Teaching Center

The Science Teaching Center has been in existence on the main campus of Widener University since 1992. The first director and originator of the STC was Mr. Charles Beehler, a former science supervisor and teacher for the Rose Tree Media School District. Mr. Beehler saw a need for a comprehensive science education outreach program for the public and private schools in the greater Delaware Valley region. And so the Science Teaching Center was born!

Leadership and Expansion

Upon his retirement from the University in 1999, Dr. Ling Liang was hired to become the new Director and a visiting professor in the Center for Education. Under her leadership, the STC held science symposia, science workshops, and summer science institutes. Dr. Liang was followed by Dr. Beverly Livingston as the director from 2003 to 2005. Dr. Livingston brought young women from the Chester community into the STC during the summers of 2004 and 2005 to attend a summer  enrichment camp. She was also integral in moving the STC from its original home at 115 East Fifteenth Street  to its new location in Widener University’s new  wing of Kirkbride Science Hall.  The Grand Opening of the new Kirkbride Hall Wing occurred on Friday, February 4, 2005, officially opening the state-of-the-art, 12 million dollar wing of Widener’s science and engineering building. The STC is housed in two adjacent classrooms in Rooms 211 and 213. Each room was designed by the education, science, and engineering faculty to ensure that the space is workable for the needs of elementary, secondary, and university  science teachers and their students.

Leading Innovation in Science Education

Currently, Dr. Nadine McHenry holds the title of director of the STC.  Dr. McHenry has been working in science education for 30 years. During that time, she has worked at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and The Franklin Institute Science Museum and has consulted with many different school districts to enhance science education through professional development.  Her research agenda focuses on the implementation of inquiry-based teaching and learning, teaching the content of science through literature, interdisciplinary teaching and learning, assessment issues, and  standards-based curricula. Dr. McHenry has a doctorate from Temple University and has been at Widener University since 2002.