Imagine~ Invent ~ Inspire
Dr. Jennifer Miller-Ray is a cognitive scientist specializing in STEM literacy and serves as an associate professor in the Education department at Sul Ross State University. She has designed literacy and makerspace events for multiple museums to include the Perot Museum, the Kennedy Space Center, NASA STEM camps, the Indigenous Education Institute, public libraries, and implemented makerspace STEM initiatives in over 30 public schools. Dr. Miller-Ray has developed Massive Open Online Courses through Canvas's Open Network highlighting NASA MMS Education Outreach programs through mobile makerspace initiatives. Dr. Miller-Ray's research centers around a makerspace project-based learning literacy process in which elementary and middle school students connect curriculum content to informal makerspace activities to make an artifact serving the career role of a journalist, scientist, engineer, or journalist. Dr. Miller Ray's initiatives, funded through a NASA grant and local library public school program, were highlighted as the innovative research project in the University of North Texas's January 2017 RESEARCH magazine and was featured in the March edition of HSI STEM Hub newsletter. Recently, Dr. Miller-Ray was awarded Noyce Scholars en la Frontera NSF grant, where she serves as the primary research investigator. Dr. Miller-Ray also oversees the mobile La Frontera STEM lab, a mobile makerspace initiative with the Science Mill Museum located in Johnson City, Texas. Dr. Miller-Ray is also currently serving as a Co-PI with UTSA's National Science Foundation's Total Eclipses in the Heart of Texas, where she will connect the Noyce program and surrounding schools to education outreach opportunities for the 2023-2024 solar eclipse events.
Dr. Miller-Ray was nominated by her colleagues and received the 2023 Outstanding Teacher Award at Sul Ross State University. Dr. Miller-Ray also sponsors the Texas State Teachers' Aspiring Educators student club and is very active in the communities she serves. Dr. Miller-Ray is eager to help communities improve their STEM literacy programs and is available to assist schools, public libraries, museums, university programs, and non-profits in their adoption of makerspace initatives. She serves as a national speaker, advisor, and curriculum developer. Whether audiences prefer to learn through an online platrom, face to face workshops, conferences, or as a keynote speaker, Dr. Miller-Ray is ready to bring innovative ideas to your community!
Dr. Miller-Ray was nominated by her colleagues and received the 2023 Outstanding Teacher Award at Sul Ross State University. Dr. Miller-Ray also sponsors the Texas State Teachers' Aspiring Educators student club and is very active in the communities she serves. Dr. Miller-Ray is eager to help communities improve their STEM literacy programs and is available to assist schools, public libraries, museums, university programs, and non-profits in their adoption of makerspace initatives. She serves as a national speaker, advisor, and curriculum developer. Whether audiences prefer to learn through an online platrom, face to face workshops, conferences, or as a keynote speaker, Dr. Miller-Ray is ready to bring innovative ideas to your community!