UNF Celebrates Research Excellence at the 2025 STARS Reception and Awards Ceremony

April 14, 2025

The University of North Florida (UNF) proudly hosted the 16th annual Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium (STARS), recognizing outstanding achievements in research, scholarship and creative activity across all disciplines. Co-sponsored by the Office of Research and the Graduate School, STARS brought together faculty, staff, and students from across the university for a full day of presentations, poster sessions, Research NOW chats and a celebratory awards ceremony.

STARS is more than a celebration, it's a testament to the thriving culture of inquiry and impact at UNF. From pioneering early childhood environmental curricula to educational technology, sport research and public scholarship, UNF faculty continue to generate knowledge that transforms lives. Congratulations to all the faculty and staff who shared their work at STARS 2025 and to those who continue to elevate the university through bold ideas and collaborative research.

Silverfield College of Education and Human Services Recognized for Outstanding Contributions

Several faculty members from the Silverfield College of Education and Human Services (SCOEHS) were honored for their research leadership and scholarship during the 2025 STARS celebration.

Dr. Adrien Malek-Lasater, Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education, received the Junior Tenure Track Faculty STARS Poster Award for her project, Plan Bee: A Pilot Study Examining a Preschool Curriculum Unit on Bees and its Influence on Children's Learning and Parents' Environmentally Responsible Behaviors. Funded through a SEED grant from UNF's Institute for the Study of Education and the Environment (IERE), the interdisciplinary project gathered pilot data in preparation for a National Science Foundation grant proposal. Co-investigators and collaborators include Dr. Katrina Hall, Dr. Pam Williamson, Dr. Erin Largo Wright, Dr. Heather Truelove, Dr. Gigi David, Kevin Anderson, Jessica Chaulk and Caroline Kiely.

Additional accolades for SCOEHS included:

High Impact Research Article Award: Dr. Terence Cavanaugh for his publication, Promoting pupils' computational thinking skills and self efficacy: A problem solving instructional approach, in Educational Technology Research and Development (2021)
First Time Funded Principal Investigators: Dr Shaqwana Freeman-Green, Dr. Adrien Malek-Lasater, Dr. Megan McMillan and Dr. Deborah Reed
Five Consecutive Years of Funding: Dr. Meghan Parkinson, Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey and Dr. Brian Zoellner
$250,000+ in Annual Research Funding: Dr. Rachelle Curcio, Dr. Tara Frazier, Dr. Wanda Lastrapes, Dr. Megan Lynch, Dr. Deborah Reed, Dr. Lunetta Williams and Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey
Platinum STARS: $1 Million+ in Sponsored Research Activity: Dr. Megan Lynch and Dr. Lunetta Williams

The ceremony also recognized faculty across UNF for research proposals submitted and awards received between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. SCOEHS faculty recognition included:

Proposals Submitted

Dr. Kim Cheek, Project B.R.I.D.G.E. (Building Research Initiative and Driving Genuine Exploration), Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Dr. Gigi David, UNF Preschool CCAMPIS Project, U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Daniel Dinsmore, Planning: An interdisciplinary synthesis core for Research Development and Advancing Research Collaborations (RD ARC) at an Emerging Research Institution (ERI), National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Suzanne Ehrlich, CCC Fireside Chat, City Colleges of Chicago
Dr. Suzanne Ehrlich, Promoting Online Student Success: Faculty and Instructional Designer Collaboration for Belonging Learning and Engagement (POSSIBLE), National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Suzanne Ehrlich,Testing Alternative Grading Strategies (TAGS), National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Suzanne Ehrlich, The Power of Presence: Faculty Communities for First-Year Student Success, Spencer Foundation
Dr. Sophie Filibert, GEAR UP C Partnership/DCPS, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Sophie Filibert, REACH (Recruiting Effective and Compassionate Helpers), U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Tara Frazier, Project USoar, University of Central Florida (UCF)
Dr. Shaqwana Freeman-Green, IDEAS: Inclusion Diversifies Education for All Students, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Terrie Galanti, PhysCRAFT: Technological and Pedagogical Support for Sustained Integration of Computational Thinking in Physics, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Terrie Galanti, Teachers as advocates and agents for change in elementary STEM: Developing a measure of equity-oriented STEM teacher identity, George Mason University (GMU)/National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. David Hoppey, IDEAS: Inclusion Diversifies Education for All Students, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Christopher Janson, GEAR UP C Partnership/DCPS, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Christopher Janson, REACH (Recruiting Effective and Compassionate Helpers), U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Dilek Kayaalp, Fear and Loathing in Florida: Bipoc Educators' and Students' Resistance to Fearism and Racism, Spencer Foundation
Dr. Wanda Lastrapes, Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program: FY 2024 INFUSION Model, U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Wanda Lastrapes, UNF Jacksonville Teacher Residency AmeriCorps Program: Learning Through Service, Volunteer Florida
Dr. Megan Lynch, Project PAIR: Partnering to Accelerate School Improvement and Increase Retention through Teacher Leadership, The University of South Florida Board of Trustees/U.S. Dept. of Education
Adrien Malek-Lasater, UNF Preschool CCAMPIS Project, U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Meghan Parkinson, Project SETI: Developing Toolkits to Uncover Preschoolers' Science Explanations, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Paul Parkison, Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program: FY 2024 INFU.S.ION Model, U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Amanda Pascale, Promoting Online Student Success: Faculty Instructional Designer Collaboration for Belonging, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Amanda Pascale, Sorority Women's Mental Health Project, Foundation for Fraternal Excellence
Dr. Amanda Pascale, The Power of Presence: Faculty Communities for Frist-Year Student Success, Spencer Foundation
Dr. Deborah Reed, Project USoar, University of Central Florida
Xavier Rozas, Project B.R.I.D.G.E. (Building Research Initiative and Driving Genuine Exploration), Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Dr. Madalina Tanase, Fear and Loathing in Florida: Bipoc Educators' and Students' Resistance to Fearism and Racism, Spencer Foundation
Dr. John White, Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program: FY 2024 INFUSION Model, U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Raijah Yarborough-Hayes, Planning: An interdisciplinary synthesis core for Research Development and Advancing Research Collaborations (RD ARC) at an Emerging Research Institution (ERI), National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, Project PAIR: Partnering to Accelerate School Improvement and Increase Retention through Teacher Leadership, The University of South Florida Board of Trustees/U.S. Dept. of Education
Dr. Brian Zoellner, Project B.R.I.D.G.E. (Building Research Initiative and Driving Genuine Exploration), Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Awards Received

Dr. Kim Cheek, DCPS Using and Leveraging Technology to Reinvent Accessibility (ULTRA), Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education, $30,900.00
Dr. Daniel Dinsmore, DCPS STEM SIMS, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/Office of Naval Research (ONR), $19,496.00
Dr. Daniel Dinsmore, DCPS STEM SIMS, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/Office of Naval Research (ONR), $19,498.00
Dr. Daniel Dinsmore, Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program, Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), $26,263.00
Dr. Daniel Dinsmore, Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program, Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), $26,263.00
Dr. Sophie Filibert, GEAR UP Partnership, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education, $186,346.50
Dr. Tara Fazier, Project USoar, University of Central Florida, $639,107.50
Dr. Shaqwana Freeman-Green, IDEAS: Inclusion Diversifies Education for All Students, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education, $220,000.00
Dr. David Hoppey, IDEAS: Inclusion Diversifies Education for All Students, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education, $110,000.00
Dr. Christopher Janson, GEAR UP Partnership, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education, $186,346.50
Dr. Wanda Lastrapes, JTR Cohort 10 Undergraduates and Clinical Residency Mentor Stipends, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS), $156,935.00
Dr. Wanda Lastrapes, Transforming Teacher Preparation for Duval County, U.S. Dept. of Education, $207,303.00
Dr. Megan Lynch, Project PREP: Partnering to Renew the Educator Pipeline, U.S. Dept. of Education, $689,580.75
Dr. Megan Lynch, Project PREP: Partnering to Renew the Educator Pipeline, U.S. Dept. of Education, $28,606.00
Dr. Adrien Malek-Lasater, Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program, Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), $26,263.00
Dr. Adrien Malek-Lasater, Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program, Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), $26,263.00
Dr. Megan McMillan, IDEAS: Inclusion Diversifies Education for All Students, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education, $110,000.00
Dr. Meghan Parkinson, Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program, Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), $26,263.00
Dr. Meghan Parkinson, Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program, Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), $26,263.00
Dr. Paul Parkison, Transforming Teacher Preparation for Duval County, U.S. Dept. of Education, $207,303.00
Dr. Deborah Reed, Project USoar, University of Central Florida, $639,107.50
Dr. James Roberson, Educational Interpreter Preparation Project, U.S. Dept. of Education, $249,882.00
Dr. Lunetta Williams, Project PREP: Partnering to Renew the Educator Pipeline, U.S. Dept. of Education, $689,580.75
Dr. Lunetta Williams, Project PREP: Partnering to Renew the Educator Pipeline, U.S. Dept. of Education, $28,606.00
Dr. Pamela Williamson, IDEAS: Inclusion Diversifies Education for All Students, Duval County Public Schools (DCPS)/U.S. Dept. of Education, $110,000.00
Dr. Christian Winterbottom, Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program, Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), $26,263.00
Dr. Christian Winterbottom, Take-home Family STEM Toolkit Program, Kids Hope Alliance (KHA), $26,263.00
Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, Project PREP: Partnering to Renew the Educator Pipeline, U.S. Dept. of Education, $689,580.75
Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey, Project PREP: Partnering to Renew the Educator Pipeline, U.S. Dept. of Education, $28,606.00
Dr. Brian Zoellner, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth State of the River Report for the Lower St. Johns River Basin (2022-2024), Jacksonville University/Environmental Protection Board of the City of Jacksonville, $4,521.80