Bio/Personal Statement

Rita Hagevik, Professor and Director of Graduate Programs in Science Education, Biology Department, UNC-Pembroke. Dr. Hagevik earned her Ph.D. in Science Education and Forestry at North Carolina State University where she holds a graduate certificate in Geospatial Technologies (GST). She has published her research on sustainability, GST in education, lesson study, outdoor education and teacher preparation and professional development in a variety of venues such as books, journals, and research reports. Her current work focuses on lesson study as a teacher support system, citizen science, garden-based research, climate change, and STEM identity and careers.

Professional Interests

I am interested in connecting nationally with other science education researchers who are doing similar work to my work. Rita Hagevik is the program director for the Master of Science and the Masters of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Science Education at UNCP. She is a professor in the Biology Department. She completed her degrees at North Carolina State University with a Ph.D. in Science Education and Forestry. She holds a North Carolina teaching license for grades K-12, a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems, academically gifted certification and is an NC Certified Environmental Educator. Her research interests include environmental education and EfS, preservice teacher education, and teacher support systems. Her scholarship investigates the use STEM in the out of door environment in K-12 schools, agriculture education, and in teaching for sustainability. She is currently the P/I on the Kids in the Garden grant, co/PI on a USDA grant around garden-based science learning and foodscapes,, and co/PI on an S-STEM grant from NSF called COMPASS 2.0 which investigates creating science identity in undergraduate STEM majors.

Publications, Awards, and Other Highlights

A selected list 1-Hagevik, R. & Falls, I. (2018). Preparing science/math teachers to teach discipline literacy using mobile technologies. In Finlayson, O., McLoughlin, E., Erduran, S., & Childs, P. (Eds.) (pp. 612-621). Dublin, Ireland, Dublin City University, ISBN 978-1-873769-84-3. 2-Stratton, S., Hagevik, R., Feldman, A. & Bloom, M. (Eds.) (2015). Educating Science Teachers for Sustainability. Netherlands: Springer Publishing Co. 3-Hagevik, R., Stubbs, H., Gioppo, C.* & Whitaker, D.* (2013). Impact of science teacher professional development through geospatial technologies: A 5-step program of support. In J. MaKinster, M. Barnett & N. Trautmann (Eds.) Teaching science and investigating environmental issues with geospatial technology(240-265) Netherlands: Springer Publishing Co. 1-Horton, J., Hagevik, R., Adkinson, B. & Parmly, J. (2013). Get connected: Incorporating technology into your lessons does not mean you have to stay indoors! Science and Children, 50(7), 44-49. (2014 REVERE Award winner for Distinguished Achievement from American Association of Publishers, Prek-12 Learning Group) 2-Hagevik, R., Aydeniz, M. & Rowell, C. (2012). Using action research in middle grades teacher education to evaluate and deepen reflective practice. Teaching and Teacher Education, 28(5), p. 675- 684. 3-Hagevik, R. (2011). Mapping our school site. Education in Review [Educar em revista], 40(2), p. 19-33. 4-Hagevik, R. (2011). Developing 21st Century learning using the power of the globe and GPS. The Middle School Journal, 43(1), p. 16-23. 5-Hagevik, R. (2011). Five steps to success: Implementing geospatial technologies in the science classroom. Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 5(1), p. 34-53. Awards 2021 National Science Foundation-funded Lesson Study in Mathematics and Science Teacher Education Conference, Chicago, IL (April), $1,150. 2020 Online Teaching Excellence Award from UNCP Office of Distance Education & The Teaching and Learning Center, $2000. 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award in STEM Education, presented by the NC Association for Biomedical Research, $500. 2018 Teacher Appreciation Award, Grand Winner, NC Region IV Science Fair, $50. 2017 Outstanding Reviewer, Teaching and Teacher Education, The Editors of TATE and Elsevier Publishing. 2014 Get Connected, Science & Children, National Science Teachers Association, 2014 REVERE Award for periodical feature article, adult, Distinguished Achievement Award, from the American Association of Publishers. 2012 Esri Teachers Teaching Teachers GIS Institute (T3G). International award, selected by a panel, Redlands, CA., $2,000. 2011 National Technology Leadership Initiative (NTLI) Award supported by the Society for Information Technology in Teacher Education (SITE) and the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE) for exemplary paper and presentation on technology at the annual Association of Science Teacher Education conference, selected through peer review, January, Minneapolis, MN., $1,500. 2005-2006 Appointed through nomination and application by the Governor of North Carolina to the NC Geographic Coordinating Council, 2005-2006. 2005 The relationship of soil and water chemistry to the preservation of salamander habitats in the Long Island Pine Barrens, Best Summer Research, selected by a panel of scientists, Brookhaven National Laboratory, August, Upton, NY. 2005 Interdisciplinary teaching with geospatial technologies, Best Poster, selected by a panel of peers, NCA&T Teaching and Learning Conference, April, Greensboro, NC. 2003 Global ReLeaf Award for Engineering Green National Award from American Forests, selected by a national committee, September, San Antonio, TX.