Krista Lucas will graduate with a Ph.D. from the Department of Education. After graduating, she will continue teaching at Pepperdine University as a visiting assistant professor. She hopes to continue her research on non-science majors’ identity and scientific literacy and to involve undergraduates in that research.
GGSE: Can you talk about your research interests and why they’re important to you?
Lucas: I am interested in learning more about undergraduate non-science majors, in particular the identity work they undertake in STEM courses and how they develop scientific literacy. This is important to me because I have been teaching non-science majors for seven years, which is a population of students who are not going into a STEM career but who still must make decisions about and understand science outside of school. Therefore, determining how non-STEM majors interact with science and integrate it into their lives is interesting to me!
GGSE: What's one thing about your research you wish everyone knew?
Lucas: I would love for everyone to know that science identity work is not only important in retaining people in STEM majors/careers, but for all citizens as a part of civic engagement.
GGSE: How has teaching at Pepperdine helped you develop as a researcher?
Lucas: Teaching at Pepperdine has truly been the center of my research. I have been able to engage in research with Pepperdine, and being connected to the natural science division as an education researcher has been very helpful, from my IRP through my dissertation and beyond.
GGSE: What piece of advice would you like to pass on to future students at GGSE?
Lucas: My best piece of advice is not to try to do everything. Figure out what your general research interests are (coming in, mine were very generally higher education and science education) and see what opportunities there are for research experience, but don’t say yes to every opportunity. Balance is really important!
GGSE: Is there anyone at GGSE you'd like to thank?
Lucas: I am so thankful for all of the faculty and staff in the GGSE. Brenda keeps us all organized with funding opportunities, the wonderful updates from George (especially the pets during the pandemic), and Sam keeps us all on top of our paperwork. To my advisor Danielle Harlow, thank you for all of your support and helpful feedback throughout the program! Julie Bianchini and Sarah Roberts—you are such wonderful committee members and I have learned so much from both of you. Meghan, Jasmine, and Alexis, you know I could not have done this without you and I am so thankful for each of you. And to the STEMinar superstars: Thank you all for being great brainstorming help!
GGSE: How are you celebrating your graduation?
Lucas: I will be participating in the GradWalk with Alexis Spina and going to Disneyland with my (fully vaccinated, yay!) family!