The American Association of Women in Community Colleges awarded Nase with their “40 Under 40” award.
Rowan College at Gloucester County students, faculty and staff have long been of the opinion that Assistant Dean of STEM, Dr. Christina Nase, is an inspiring figure at the College. The American Association of Women in Community Colleges could not agree more.
On April 29, the AAWCC honored Nase, along with 39 of her contemporaries selected from community colleges across the country, with their annual “40 Under 40” award. The association bestows this honor annually to 40 young women who are making a game-changing impact on their community college’s campus.
“It’s a remarkable honor,” said Dr. Linda Hurlburt, RCGC’s vice president of Academics. “I’m very pleased, though not at all surprised, to see Dr. Nase and her achievements here at RCGC recognized on a national level.”
The AAWCC was founded in 1973 to provide education, career development and advancement opportunities to women educators and students at community colleges. In 2012, RCGC became the first South Jersey college to form its own chapter, which Nase promptly joined that same year. Over the course of her membership, she has served on the association’s activities, membership and scholarship committees.
Nase, who has her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Florida and a B.S. in chemistry from Bloomsbury University, began her education on a different path. Originally planning to major in nursing, she took a biochemistry class as part of her coursework, which quickly ignited a passion that lead her in a different direction.
“I fell in love with biochemistry right away,” Nase explains. “I could see so many real world examples of chemistry in my everyday life.”
An experience in graduate school as a teaching assistant for a general chemistry class further clarified her career goals — she wanted to teach. She wanted to share her love of chemistry and inspire a similar zeal in her students. In 2011, Nase started as an assistant professor of chemistry at RCGC before moving on to become an associate professor and now the assistant dean of STEM.
“I love my students,” Nase said, with a passion that is clearly contagious. “I really like breaking down their preconceived notions about chemistry. A lot of my students dread taking the course and don’t understand how it applies to their major. I like showing them real world examples and helping them make those connections.”
Nase’s desire to kindle an excitement for science in her students extends far beyond her classroom. During her first year teaching at RCGC, she established a STEM club, which laid the groundwork for the College’s new Women in STEM Academy, designed to support, encourage and inspire female students interested in pursuing a STEM degree.
“Women are still underrepresented in many STEM fields,” Nase elaborates. “This was our way of making sure that people who want to get into the STEM fields have the resources and support they need to achieve that goal.”
The Women in STEM Academy puts a heavy focus on mentoring and camaraderie to create an interconnected community of supportive and informed members. Led by Nase, the academy offers a speaker series, networking events and community outreach activities to help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to compete within rapidly-changing STEM fields. One activity in particular has become so beloved by Nase’s students, and in-demand with local teachers, that it will soon be offered as an honor’s course — field trips to local elementary schools to inspire the next generation of STEM scholars.
“Early exposure to STEM fields is so critical, so we really focus on the first and second grades,” said Nase. “We work with elementary school teachers to align their curriculum with fun science labs led by RCGC students so we can demonstrate the excitement of science to young boys and girls. Demand for these labs has become so high, and our students have become so passionate about leading them, that we plan to turn it into an honor’s research class.”
Nase has no plans to stop expanding the reach of the College’s STEM division. On May 19, she will be launching RCGC’s very first STEAM Con — a fun-filled celebration of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics fields. Participants of all ages will have the opportunity to explore 65 million year old remains of South Jersey marine life, create their own fossil model on a 3-D printer, paint a masterpiece using a virtual reality system, get messy with the STEM club making slime, lava lamps, marshmallow catapults and volcanoes or even try extracting their own DNA. Those looking to pursue a STEM degree, but not quite sure what career path to follow, can join in on one of the Careers in STEM sessions held throughout the afternoon.
“There’s so much excitement to be found within STEM fields,” concludes Nase with a smile. “I just want to share that excitement with as many students as I can.”
More information on RCGC’s Women in STEM Academy can be found at RCGC.edu/WSTEM, or watch Dr. Nase elaborate on the academy in a recentRCGC Today interview at RCGC.edu/News/WSTEM2018.
Tickets for STEAM Con, which will be held May 19, from 1–5 p.m., are available for $10 , or $7.50 for groups.. For more information, or to purchase your ticket, visit www.RCGC.edu/Steam.
