Danielle Harlow, professor in the Department of Education as of July 1st, has been named associate dean for academics and faculty development at UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz School. Harlow succeeds Dr. Hunter Gehlbach, who is leaving UC Santa Barbara for a position at the Johns Hopkins University.
“I'm looking forward to working with other faculty to help build their capacity to succeed in their research, teaching, and mentoring,” Harlow says. “I hope to build on the work started this year by Hunter Gehlbach and the junior faculty to create a community of support and collaboration among all the faculty. The faculty of the Gevirtz School have such diverse interests, experiences, and expertise. I hope to tap into this collective expertise to develop resources and opportunities that will help all faculty to meet professional goals, mentor our students to succeed, and work with community partners to improve learning opportunities for others.”
Gevirtz School Dean Jeffrey Milem underscores the importance of this appointment. “We are pleased Dr. Harlow has agreed to fill this associate dean position, as her own career of scholarship, writing grants, and service is a shining example for our faculty,” Dean Milem says. “I’m sure she will make a fine faculty member advocate, especially as the school continues its year-long strategic planning.”
Danielle Harlow’s work focuses on science and engineering education for elementary school children and teachers and the role that informal science environments can play in children’s and teachers’ learning. Harlow also collaborates on multiple research and education programs with MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, a museum designed to encourage visitors to learn about science and engineering through exploring and innovating, a vision that aligns with national goals for schools. She is currently PI of two grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). One, in collaboration with MOXI, focuses on developing elementary teachers' capacity to integrate engineering into their curriculum through pre and post activities that extend the learning of MOXI field trip programs. The other, in collaboration with faculty from 5 universities is developing activities resources to help the public understand ideas related to quantum computing. Harlow teaches courses in the graduate program in Education about technology, STEM education, and design based research and teaches elementary school science methods in the Teacher Education Program. Each year, Harlow directs the UCSB School Maker Faire, where elementary student teachers facilitate interactive science and making activities for local children. She earned her Ph.D. in Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder and M.S. in Geophysics at Stanford University.