Dr. Mary Sowder serves as the Coordinator of Graduate Studies for the School of Education at Utah Valley University. In addition to teaching classes for both the Department of Elementary Education and the Master of Education courses, Mary manages the operation and development of the Master of Education degree program. At the national level, Mary serves on committees for the School Science and Mathematics Association and is a regular reviewer for the Journal of School Science and Mathematics. Within the university, Mary sits on the, Academic Policy and the Graduate Support Committees. She also serves on committees for Elementary Student Retention, Department Chair, Graduate Procedures, and Masters Project Oversight in the School of Education. Mary has also been appointed as a fellow in the Utah Valley Senior Executive Leadership Forum (UVSELF). Mary has been a presenter in several on-campus training sessions for the Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence at UVU, and has presented research at local, regional, and national conferences in the areas of science teaching and teacher education. Externally, Mary is a member of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. The author of a recent book on mentoring novice teachers in science education, Mary has also published and presented research on elementary science education, teacher education, and on the process of becoming a teacher educator in the university context. After many years as an elementary teacher, science specialist, and mentor teacher, Mary earned a Ph.D. in Teacher Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Mary received a National Teaching Certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Practices during her elementary teaching career, and she recently received an award as Distinguished Teacher Educator from the Utah Association of Teacher Educators. EDUCATION: Ph.D. in Teacher Education from University Nevada, Las Vegas M.S. in Computer Education from NOVA Southeastern University (Florida) B.A. in Music from Chapman University (California) COURSES TAUGHT: Curriculum and Assessment Elementary Science Methods Curriculum Design Contemporary Issues in Education Research Methods in Education Instructional Models I Instructional Models II NATIONAL, REGIONAL, AND UNIVERSITY SERVICE: School Science and Mathematics Association, Awards Committee, 2010 – present Association of Teacher Educators, Teacher Education Standards Committee, 2006-2009 Utah Valley University, Academic Policy Committee, 2008-present Utah Valley University Graduate Support Committee, 2009- present Utah Valley University, Northwest Accreditation Committee, Standard 2, 2009-2010 Utah Valley University, Graduate Procedures Committee, School of Education, 2008- present Utah Valley University, Masters Project Oversight Committee, School of Education, 2009-present