Missy Barker
School of Teacher Education and Leadership
Graduate Assistant
Educational Background
My GRA position has provided me with great opportunities to engage in various stages of the research process. Through these experiences, I have gained valuable experience that improves my research skills and supports my progress as a student. I know that as a result of my graduate research assistantship, I will complete my PhD with abilities and opportunities that I would not have had otherwise.
Emphasis
Concentration Area: Specialization in Curriculum and Instruction, Mathematics Emphasis
Research Interests: Promoting student interest and entry into the STEM pipeline through STEM project-based learning experiences.
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Katherine Vela and Dr. Tye Campbell
Research Supervisor: Dr. Tye Campbell
Expertise
Research Projects: 2022 to 2024- Participation in CAREER Grant research with Dr. Colby Tofel-Grehl. This project evaluated the effectiveness of a new professional development model as it impacts teacher growth in rural Hawaii. As a GRA, I wrote curricula, modeled teaching STEM projects, and collected data on teacher implementation and student growth. I also assisted with the ESTITCH project, which embeds electronic textiles and projects into the curriculum to promote cross-curricular integration.
2024-Present -I work with Dr. Tye Campbell for research. We investigate elementary students’ mathematical well-being.
Awards: USU Presidential Doctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) 2022-2026-Offering unparalleled support and access to resources at USU, the PDRF provides USU’s most driven and dedicated graduate students opportunities to connect with top researchers, administrators, and leaders.