USM Faculty Member, Doctoral Candidate Chosen for American Chemical Society Program

Thu, 10/03/2024 - 12:07pm | By: Dr. David Tisdale

Dr. Johnathan ‘Hugh’ Broome, associate teaching professor in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Mary Gray, a doctoral student in the Southern Miss Center for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education and a chemistry teacher at Jefferson Davis County (Miss.) High School (JDCHS), have been selected for the 2024-25 American Chemical Society (ACS) Science Coaches Program.

The ACS Science Coaches Program is a joint initiative between the American Chemical Society and the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) that serves as an educational outreach aimed at developing and enhancing science skills in students across the United States by pairing chemists with teachers in elementary, middle, and high schools.

Dr. Theofanis Kitsopoulos, director of the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, said Dr. Broome and Gray’s selection for the program reflects USM's ongoing commitment to fostering educational partnerships that enhance student learning and engagement in the sciences. 

“The hands-on experience and mentorship opportunities provided through this initiative are invaluable in preparing the next generation of chemists,” Dr. Kitsopoulos further noted. “By bringing together passionate educators and professionals, we continue to build a strong foundation for excellence in STEM education.”

Science Coaches in the program meet a minimum of six times (approximately one-to-two hours in length) with the teacher partner throughout a school year. During those meetings, the Science Coach can engage in a variety of activities, including, but not limited to, lesson planning, laboratory design, science fair mentorship, or presentations on rTheyesearch; the program is flexible based on the teacher's needs.

For USM’s participation in the program, Dr. Broome will conduct a series of laboratory events that connect chemical concepts with hands-on experiences for Gray's students; funding from a Flinn Scientific gift certificate will cover costs for fresh chemicals and molecular model building kits.

“It’s an incredible honor to be chosen for this program by the ACS and AACT,” Dr. Broome said. “This is a wonderful recognition of our ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between the world of higher education and the secondary classroom. I'm excited about the opportunity to inspire JDCHS students, showing them how chemistry shapes our world and opening their eyes to the myriad possibilities in STEM careers.” 

Gray said she’s excited for the opportunity for her students to “become more inquisitive and better critical thinkers, while understanding real life applications of their investigations” through the program.

Click here for information about the USM School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, here for the Center for STEM Education and here for the ACS Science Coaches Program.