Laura A. Lukes named director of George Mason University’s STEM Accelerator
Laura A. Lukes has been named director of the STEM Accelerator in George Mason University’s College of Science. With expertise spanning geoscience education research and classroom practice, Lukes brings a strong track record in advancing evidence-based teaching, faculty support, and student achievement. She will assume the role June 29, 2026.
The STEM Accelerator, established in 2011, serves as a hub for fostering student success and innovation in STEM education within the College of Science. With a unique interdisciplinary team of faculty and staff, the Accelerator aims to be a national leader in advancing effective STEM education initiatives in higher education. Its work focuses on increasing the number of STEM majors, improving retention rates, and supporting graduates as they enter the workforce or pursue advanced study. Key programs include the Learning Assistant (LA) Program, which engages undergraduate students as peer leaders in STEM courses; the Undergraduate Research Colloquium, which connects students with faculty mentors and research opportunities; and the Noyce Scholars Program, which prepares future STEM educators. The Accelerator also plays a central role in outreach, enrichment, and research on teaching and learning.
As director, Lukes will guide the STEM Accelerator’s efforts to advance pedagogical innovation, strengthen teaching assessment and peer evaluation practices, and contribute to the growing body of STEM education research. She will help refocus and expand the Accelerator’s impact on student outcomes, with particular emphasis on instructional quality and teaching excellence. Lukes will oversee core initiatives, mentor graduate students engaged in STEM education and discipline-based education research, and support faculty and graduate teaching assistants through professional development. She will also represent the Accelerator in university initiatives and public-facing efforts, lead workshops addressing the evolving landscape of science education, and pursue external funding to grow the Accelerator’s reach.
“The STEM Accelerator is a cornerstone of our efforts to foster teaching excellence, innovation, and student success in the College of Science. Laura brings the leadership, vision, and commitment to collaboration that will elevate this important work and enhance its impact across the college,” said College of Science Dean Cody W. Edwards.
Throughout her career, Lukes has taught a broad range of undergraduate and graduate courses while mentoring students, postdoctoral researchers, and teaching assistants. Her work integrates insights from the learning sciences with practical applications in curriculum design, instructional development, and science communication.
Lukes’s work centers on experiential learning and effective STEM teaching strategies. Most recently, she served as assistant professor of research in geological sciences at the University of British Columbia, where she secured and led funded projects examining field-based learning, student partnership models, and learner engagement in geoscience education.
Lukes also brings prior experience from George Mason University. As assistant director of the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning, she led institution-wide initiatives related to faculty development and graduate education. Prior to that, she served as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at the National Science Foundation, where she directed an international field-based STEM program in Greenland.
"I'm excited to rejoin the Mason community and to build on the STEM Accelerator's momentum to further enhance STEM education and learning experiences,” Lukes said.
Her contributions have earned widespread recognition. Lukes is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and has received numerous honors, including the Biggs Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching from the Geological Society of America, the Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award from the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, and The Ohio State University’s Alumni Career Award.
She holds a PhD in Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences from North Carolina State University, along with an MEd in Integrated Science and a BS in Geological Sciences from The Ohio State University, and an MS in Geological Sciences from Virginia Tech.
