and she teaches engineering education and engineering courses. Previous experience includes faculty positions in diverse universities where she has taught a variety of coursework ranging from engineering education to structural systems to engineering economy. Prior to teaching, Dr. Besser, a licensed engineer, was a design engineer with HNTB-CA, where she worked on seismic retrofits and new design of high profile transportation structures.

Alison Haugh is in the third year of her studies at the University of St. Thomas, Majoring in Elementary Education and STEM Education,while Minoring in Engineering Education. Her undergraduate Playful Learning Lab research is focused on expanding quality engineering education with an eye to under-served populations, including students with disabilities. Alison is the Lead STEPS (Science, Technology and Engineering Preview program) curriculum constructor, lead trainer and lead on-site researcher. Additionally, Alison assists on and leads after-school engineering clubs at schools near the University. AnnMarie Thomas is a professor in the School of Engineering and the College of Business at the University of St. Thomas where she is the director of the Playful Learning Lab, which focuses on engineering and design education for learners of all ages. AnnMarie is the co-founder, and former director, of the UST Center for Engineering Education. Dr. Debra Monson, University of St. ThomasDebbie Monson, Ph.D., is currently a faculty member in Teacher Education at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN. Debbie's work in Engineering Education is a result of collaboration with the Center for Engineering Education at St. Thomas and the engineers that run that center. Her interests include educating teachers and preservice teachers so they are able to teach integrated STEM topics to their students and the specific connections to mathematics that integrated lessons provide.Dr. Deborah Besser P.E., University of St. Thomas Dr. Besser, who holds a PhD in education and MS and BS in civil engineering, entered the K-12 education realm designing, implementing and researching K-12 engineering education programs. Currently, she is the director of University of St. Thomas Center for Engineering Education; and she teaches engineering education and engineering courses. Previous experience includes faculty positions in diverse universities where she has taught a variety of coursework ranging from engineering education to structural systems to engineering economy. Prior to teaching, Dr. Besser, a licensed engineer, was a design engineer with HNTB-CA, where she worked on seismic retrofits and new design of high profile transportation structures.c American Society for Engineering Education, 2016 ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ENGINEERING SUMMER DAY CAMP AbstractThis paper describes a five session summer camp, for rising seventh-grade students, which employed an engineering design process in basic circuitry and laser cutting projects. This document discusses results from an assessment of the camp's effectiveness in increasing general engineering knowledge and fostering an affinity towards the engineering fields. The 2015 camp targeted females for the first three sessions, and both males and females for the last two sessions. This camp was a collaboration between the University of St Thomas and St. Paul Public Library system. This camp model emphasized hands-on learning experiences and featured lessons on circuitry, computer design, ...

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is a licensed engineer with a breadth of teaching and engineering experience. Currently, she is the director of University of St. Thomas Center for Pre-Collegiate Engineering Education and she teaches engineering education. Previous professional experience includes instruction in structural systems (steel, timber, concrete, masonry), statics, strength of materials, engineering economy, construction materials, construction management and graphic design. Dr. Besser, who holds a PhD in education, entered the K-12 education realm as program director where her responsibilities included design and implementation of K-12 engineering education programs. Prior to teaching, Dr. Besser was a design engineer with HNTB-CA, where she worked on seismic retrofits and new design of high profile transportation structures. The unifying theme of her vocational mission is that she is committed to building bridges.

Jenna is a senior at the University of St. Thomas, finishing up her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and STEM Education with a minor in Psychology. Jenna collaborates with the Center for Engineering Education to create outreach curriculum. She works in her university's Playful Learning Lab which focuses on engaging students of all ages in hands-on, innovative engineering education, especially focusing on reaching the underrepresented within the STEM fields. Jenna also leads the University's STEPS (Science, Technology, and Engineering Preview Summer) Program, developing the curriculum, leading the staff, and working as the primary researcher.