Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology Columbia University

Title: Is this job worth it? A new approach to studying college students' motivation for persisting in life sciences careers.

Emily Rosenzweig is an Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology in the Department of Human Development at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research examines students’ motivation for making academic and career choices during adolescence and youth, with particular focus in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She has published numerous articles about students’ motivation in education and psychology journals including Science Advances, International Journal of STEM Education, and the Journal of Educational Psychology. Her work has received funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and the American Psychological Association. She was recently awarded the 2025 Richard E. Snow Award for Early Contributions to Educational Psychology from the American Psychological Association, Division 15. Outside of research, she enjoys reading novels and playing “science” with her two preschool-aged daughters (which mostly involves cleaning up food coloring out of the rug).

The Place-based speakers for the SABER 2025 Annual Meeting are distinguished educators:

• Mike Waltman, St. Paul Public Schools

• Dr. Gillian Roehrig, Professor of STEM Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota

• Dr. Tom Meagher, Science Instructor and STEAM Coordinator Emeritus for the Owatonna Public School system in Owatonna, MN

During this interactive panel discussion, Dr. Roehrig, Dr. Meagher, and Mr. Waltman will share their experiences working with urban and rural Minnesota STEM students and educators and begin a dialogue about how the SABER community might forge beneficial connections with STEM educators in the communities where we work.

Mr. Waltman teaches middle and high school science at Creative Arts Secondary School, a 6-12 part of Saint Paul Public schools. He holds undergraduate degrees in biology and education from Macalester College, a masters of science from the University of Minnesota, and is currently a NSF Noyce Master Teaching Fellow as well as pursuing his EdS through Hamline University. He has served on curriculum adoption and adaptation working groups as well as facilitating professional development opportunities for colleagues as Minnesota adopts new science standards.

Dr. Roehrig holds degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics, and Teaching and Teacher Education (Science Education). A former President of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, she has led numerous federally funded projects focused on STEM curriculum development and the impacts of professional learning experiences on teacher knowledge, beliefs, and instructional practices.

Dr. Meagher holds degrees in Biology and Biology Education, and completed graduate work in Science Education at the University of Minnesota. He has taught science in Arizona, Montana, and Minnesota, including at the Navajo Reservation Tribal School and Nay Ah Shing Tribal School. In his current role as STEAM Coordinator, he provides professional learning opportunities, instructional coaching, and curricular support for K–8 educators, with a particular interest in mentoring early-career teachers in the design and implementation of inquiry-based curricula.

Read more about SABER's Place-Based Initiative