Program Leadership

Collaborative leadership is at the heart of the STEM Communities LA Program. Our model connects three vital branches: our program administration, faculty team leaders, and the learning assistants themselves. These groups work together to build supportive, student-centered learning environments.

Here are some of the key members of our leadership team. For more specific information regarding our program, please email: stemcommunities@txstate.edu 

Program Senior Personnel

Profile picture of Dr. Alice Olmstead

Dr. Alice Olmstead

Program Director

 

Associate Professor-Physics
alice.olmstead@txstate.edu 512.245.0587

Profile picture of Dr. Heather Galloway

Dr. Heather Galloway

Program Advisor

 

Professor- Physics
galloway@txstate.edu 512.245.2266

Photo of Dr. Elenor Close

Dr. Eleanor Close

Associate Director

 

Professor- Physics
eclose@txstate.edu 512.245.8664

Profile picgture of Dr. Cynthia Luxford

Dr. Cynthia Luxford

Consultant

 

Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
cluxford@txstate.edu 512.245.1290

Program Staff

Profile picture of Laura Ramirez-Mann

Laura Ramirez-Mann 

PROGRAM COORDINATOR (Part-time) 

 
ksy26@txstate.edu 

Student Researchers

Saige Toedtman
Undergraduate Researcher

Keegan Collums
Undergraduate Researcher

Liv Saunders
Graduate Researcher

 

Faculty Team Leaders

Biology

BIO 1330 - Functional Biology

Dr. Manish Kumar   
Professor of Instruction   
m_k135@txstate.edu

BIO 1331 - Organismal Biology

Dr. David Johnson   
Associate Professor of Instruction   
d_j182@txstate.edu

Chemistry & Biochemistry

CHEM 1341- General Chemistry I

Duke Willoughby
Associate Professor of Instruction 
tvp20@txstate.edu

CHEM 1342- General Chemistry II

Dr. Omneya Nassar
Associate Professor of Instruction 
omneya.nassar@txstate.edu

Physics

PHYS 1335 - General Physics I for Life Sciences Majors

Dr. Brandon Lunk
Professor of Instruction
brlunk@txstate.edu

PHYS 1345 - General Physics II for Life Sciences Majors

Dr. Dip N Mahato
Associate Professor of Instruction
d_m809@txstate.edu

Physics

PHYS 2325 - Mechanics

Dr. Saeed Moshfeghyeganeh 
Asst Professor of Instruction
cbe34@txstate.edu

PHYS 2326- Electricity and Magnetism

Dr. Luisa Scolfaro
Asst Professor of Instruction
lscolfaro@txstate.edu

PHYS 2335 Waves and Heat

Dr. David Donnelly
Professor
dd14@txstate.edu

Additional support for the STEM Communities Learning Assistant Program is provided by Honors College staff.

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