Bina Vanmali ’99, Leader in STEM Education

Photo caption/credit: Bina Vanmali ’99 (above, center), newly appointed TIDES executive director, speaks with University of Texas at Austin Director of the Freshman Research Initiative Stacia Rodenbusch (right) and TIDES Director for Student Programs Lynda Gonzales. Photo by Vivian Abagiu, The University of Texas at Austin.

Bina Vanmali ’99 has spent her entire career as a proponent of STEM education. The former Westminster biology major, who earned her Ph.D. in learning, teaching and curriculum from the University of Missouri, jumped into science education immediately after graduation, first as a biology instructor and eventually as director of the Arizona Science Education Collaborative at Arizona State University. Now, just four years since completing her doctorate, Vanmali has been named the new executive director of the Texas Institute for Discovery Education in Science (TIDES) at The University of Texas at Austin.

Part of the College of Natural Sciences, TIDES plays a leading role in promoting and advancing STEM education. According to the institute’s website, TIDES works to “catalyze, support and showcase innovative, evidence-based undergraduate science education” and has established numerous initiatives that connect students to high-quality science education programs. Selected for the position after a national search, Vanmali will serve at the helm of the organization’s latest efforts and initiatives.

“I am excited to join the Dean’s Leadership Team and to work with the fantastic staff and faculty already in place at TIDES to expand the opportunities we can offer students in STEM,” Vanmali said in a recent article for The University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences. “… Right now, the College is focused on active learning, transforming STEM curricula, expanding experientially based curricula and professional development for science educators at all levels. I’m excited to be part of the critical discussions on campus about where science education is headed.”

To learn more about TIDES and Vanmali’s work with the institute, visit cns.utexas.edu/news/with-eye-to-experiential-learning-tides-welcomes-new-director-and-initiativeswith-eye-to-experiential-learning-tides-welcomes-new-director-and-initiatives#.WBL8HiBONao.facebook.

Headshot photo by Vivian Abagiu, The University of Texas at Austin.