Meet the Team

Adrien Malek-Lasater, Ph.D.

Director of STEP into Learning and Professional Development and Research

Assistant Professor, Department of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum

Adrien Malek-Lasater, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Education at the University of North Florida and Director of Research and Professional Development for the UNF Preschool. Dr. Malek-Lasater has spent approximately ten years working with young children and families as an early childhood education teacher and an early intervention child development specialist. She advocates for constructivist teaching approaches and supports children's learning through inquiry and experience. Before her years in education and family services, she worked as a Registered Dietitian in the clinical setting. Dr. Malek-Lasater has a strong interdisciplinary background in both practice and research. Her research interests focus on improving learning environments for teachers and children, specifically fostering positive teacher and child well-being and improving mealtimes in early care and education settings.

Brian Zoellner

Co-Director of NEFSTEM

Brian Zoellner serves as the NEFSTEM Executive Director. He is an Associate Professor of Secondary Science Education in the UNF College of Education and Human Services and holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus on secondary science education and educational policy, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his current role he teaches secondary science methods and foundations courses, supervises student teaching interns, and oversees the science education curriculum. His research interests include the use of technology to enhance educator professional development, STEM curriculum development and implementation, and state and federal education policy related to teachers and their practice. Prior to his graduate studies, he was a high school science teacher and football coach.

Xavier Rozas

STEP Lab and NEFSTEM Coordinator of Professional Learning

Xavier Rozas joins the NEFSTEM Team following an 18-year career in the Boston Public Schools where he served as a high school digital media instructor, Teacher Leader, Career & Technical Education (CTE) Director, STEM Coordinator and Instructional Coach. Mr. Rozas is a proud member of the COEHS' 30 Strong Ed.D. cohort where he is exploring topics in instructional coaching models, STEM and vocational education. He earned his MA degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in the Technology, Innovation and Education and The New School of Social Research (NYC) in Media Management.

Dan Dinsmore

Associate Dean of Research, External Funding and Faculty Development

Professor

Dan's major interest is in how individuals' thinking changes what they learn. Specifically, he examines how individuals' thinking changes over time as a result of the events that happen around them in the environment as well as their willingness to learn. His work spans early elementary to adult learners in a wide variety of different subjects such as reading and STEM. His research has been published in national and international research journals and his various articles and book chapters have been cited over 1900 times in the research literature. Dan currently serves as an Associate Editor for both Contemporary Educational Psychology and Higher Education Pedagogies. Prior to his work in academia Dan taught general and instrumental music in both Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Gigi Morales David

The UNF Preschool Director of Operations and Teachers

Dr. G is a bilingual Jacksonville native who brings a creative perspective combined with over 30 years of educational experiences including: Preschool & Elementary Teacher, Head of School, Director of Education for HS and EHS, Curriculum Designer, Program Evaluator, Education Consultant and University Professor. She is a published children’s author and has designed a variety of supplemental curriculum and educational resources for teaching children ages 2-12. Her educational background includes a bachelors’ degree in Elementary Education, specialist degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Florida and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. She has presented at the local, state and national level including multiple times at NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children and NTI (National Training Institute. Her presentations include School Museum Exhibitions; Promoting Preschool Friendships; ABC Literacy: Art, Books, Community. Her dissertation research received the Mulkeen award for practice centered inquiry. She has co-authored research articles published in Creativity Research Journal, Early Childhood Development and Care, Journal of Research in Childhood Education. Prior to starting her new role as Director of UNF Preschool, she was the Director of Reggio Inspired Learning at Friendship Public Charter Schools in Washington, DC.

Christian Winterbottom

Department of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Chair

Associate Professor

Originally from Manchester, England, Christian Winterbottom is an Associate Professor at the University of North Florida. He earned his BA in English at the University of Bedfordshire in England and his Master’s degree and Ph.D., in early childhood education at the Florida State University. For four years, he taught preschool and elementary students in Japan and when he moved to Florida he worked extensively with preschools and Head Start programs. While attaining his doctorate, Dr. Winterbottom was director of child care training and accreditation in Florida, where he ran a contract for the Department of Children and Families while working at the Children's Forum. He currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in early childhood education. His research is primarily focused on working with marginalized populations, and on reconceptualizing early childhood pedagogy through praxeological learning methodologies.