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Dr. Romance is Professor of Science Education in the College of Education at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a graduate faculty member in both the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Science at FAU.Her research interests address meaningful learning in complex STEM domains, applying a learning sciences lens in addressing issues ranging from building elementary teachers knowledge and skill in teaching science to coordinating learning communities addressing mathematics curriculum as a persistent barrier impacting student success and retention in undergraduate STEM programs. She is currently OI on a NSF DR K-12, Co-PI on a USDOE Title III Hispanic Serving Institution, internal evaluator on FAU's NSF Advance early phase grant, and a member of the Advisory Board on the NSF STEM+C in Broward Schools and the NSF MSP at the University of Toledo.

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Dr. Ali Zilouchian is currently the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University. He is also currently the Director of “CAPTURE” program which is related to increasing pipeline, graduation rate as well as future jobs in the State of Florida related to STEM graduates especially Computer Science and Engineering fields. His recent projects have been funded by DOE, Florida BOG, National Science Foundation, Florida Power and Lights (FPL), Broward County School district and several other sources. His recent research works related to alternative energy applications includes Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) for Solar Systems, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) and battery technology to transportation technology. In addition, he has conducted research on the applications of soft computing methodologies to industrial processes including, desalination processes, oil refineries, fuzzy control of jet engines, and fuzzy controllers for car engines.
Dr. Zilouchian has published one book, and over 143 book chapters, scholarly journal papers, and refereed conference proceedings. He has supervised 20 Ph.D. and MS students to completion during his tenure at FAU. He has taught more than thirty (30) different courses related to engineering technology during his tenure at FAU. In 1996 and 2001, Dr. Zilouchian was awarded for the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching at FAU. He has also received many awards including 1998 outstanding leadership award (IEEE, membership development), best organizer award(World Automation Congress, 2002), best paper award( WAC, 2002), 2003 and 2004 College of Engineering Dean’s awards in recognition of his contributions toward achievement of the goals of College of Engineering and Computer Science at FAU. He has served as session chair and organizer of many sessions in the international conferences for the past 30 years. Professor Zilouchian is currently an associate editor of the International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering out of Oxford, UK. Professor Zilouchian is senior member of several professional societies including Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, ASEE and IEEE.

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DR. Vitale holds the Ph.D. in Educational Research and Instructional Psychology.

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Alisa Greenberg, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Florida Atlantic University. She is the coordinator and instructor for the Intermediate Algebra program. Her teaching assignments have ranged from Intermediate Algebra through Calculus. To support the growing numbers of underprepared students and to support those in need of mathematics for their bachelor’s degree program, Ms. Greenberg initiated two projects. The first, Math Boot Camp, provided intensive guided instruction for those students unlikely to pass even the most remedial of math courses. As an offshoot of that successful project, she created the Math Emporium Project which was implemented into the Intermediate Algebra program. The Emporium uses two different instructional approaches operating concurrently, resulting in students completing their degree seeking programs in a timely manner and well within the recommended timeframe. Ms. Greenberg was a part of the ETW, or Effective Teaching Workshop, for graduate students which was designed to prepare them with instructional techniques necessary for their teaching assignments. Ms. Greenberg is also coordinating the mentoring-the-mentors initiative in partnership with the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the USDOE Title III Hispanic Serving Institution grant project. Mentors are learning how to guide mentees in thinking mathematically using concepts rather than helping them solve problems for homework.

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