The USEA Executive Board is the governing body of USEA and is responsible for establishing policy and setting direction for the association. It meets three times per year (face-to-face and via web conference). The board consists of the president, vice president, past president, secretary-treasurer, and three members-at-large. At least one member of the board should be a UTeach Master Teacher, and at least one member should be an alumnus of a UTeach program.
Executive Board, 2026–2027
Madison Staton, President
Assistant Director of Programming for The Center for Gifted Studies, Western Kentucky University
Madison Staton is a former secondary science educator with seven years of classroom experience. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Middle School Science Education through the SKyTeach program at Western Kentucky University and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Educational Technology from Purdue University. Her work centers on creating engaging STEM learning experiences that connect students and teachers with authentic, inquiry-driven learning.
Madison is actively involved in STEM leadership and teacher professional learning at the local, state, and national levels. She recently served as President of the Kentucky Science Teachers Association and continues to support science and STEM educators through conference leadership, professional development, and community partnerships. Her work has included collaboration on district and regional STEM initiatives, mentoring pre-service teachers, and supporting innovative STEM outreach experiences for students and educators.
Madison is committed to strengthening connections across the UTeach community and expanding opportunities for student and alumni involvement within USEA. She is passionate about supporting both pre-service and in-practice teachers while helping cultivate a collaborative STEM education community focused on growth, leadership, and innovation.
Dr. Kristen Apraiz, Immediate Past President
Clinical Associate Professor, UFTeach, University of Florida
Dr. Kristen Apraiz is a Clinical Associate Professor of Mathematics Education and Director of UFTeach at the University of Florida. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida, and both her M.S. and B.S. in Mathematics Education from Florida State University. Her commitment to the USEA network shines through her leadership in strengthening STEM teacher preparation and her dedication to expanding high-quality field experiences for preservice teachers.
Dr. Apraiz’s background as a middle and high school mathematics teacher has informed her research and teacher preparation philosophy, empowering beginning teachers to create caring, student-centered classrooms. Her research focuses on authentic fieldwork, reflective pedagogy, and the effective integration of technology in secondary mathematics education.
Dr. Apraiz has been a consistent force for improvement, collaboration, and excellence within the UTeach community, serving on multiple committees and initiatives planning engagement activities and events for UTeach students. She continues to strengthen collaboration and innovation across the UTeach network, advancing a shared vision for high-quality, inquiry-driven STEM teacher preparation.
Dr. Ronald White, Vice President/President-Elect
Director of Spartans Teach, at Norfolk State University
Dr. Ronald L. White is Director of Spartans Teach at Norfolk State University, which is an HBCU. He holds a Ph.D. in educational management with a concentration in STEM leadership and is currently pursuing graduate study in applied statistics.
Dr. White's work sits at the intersection of mathematics education, educational psychology, and the learning sciences, with a deep commitment to understanding how learning environments can inspire and empower future mathematics and science educators. He has published in the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and the Virginia Mathematics Teacher and currently serves as Principal Investigator for a $1.2 million NSF Track 1 Noyce grant examining experiential learning and motivational drivers among high school students pursuing STEM teaching careers.
Although Dr. White is a mathematics educator by training, he brings more than 25 years of experience in program leadership, evaluation, and assessment, applying collaborative and culturally responsive methodologies to broaden participation in STEM. He has served as an independent evaluator on NSF-funded projects and community-supported initiatives, trained future evaluators, and contributed to the development of numerous evaluation plans for NSF proposals. His expertise in evaluation has also been shaped through extensive work developing evaluation responses for accreditation processes, Title III initiatives, and STEM-oriented programs and services.
Under his leadership, Spartans Teach has grown to a robust program. This is a testament to his ability to build scalable, high-impact pathways for underrepresented students entering the STEM teaching profession. Officially established as a UTeach program in Fall 2025, Spartans Teach stands as a growing model for STEM teacher preparation at HBCUs.
Dr. Alexander Eden, Secretary
Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Minnesota Rochester
Dr. Alexander Eden is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Salem State University, where he teaches undergraduate biology and conducts research in science education. He earned a B.S. in Biology with a UTeach STEM Teaching minor and went on to earn an M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Education, Communication, and Outreach, both from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He later completed his Ph.D. in Biology Education at Florida International University, where he focused his research on inquiry-driven learning environments that position students as active participants in science.
Dr. Eden has been a steadfast influence on the USEA community since his graduation from UTeach. In addition to delivering a presentation at the 2024 UTeach STEM Educators Conference, he has been a part of countless groups and committees working to influence the future of USEA. Outside of UTeach, Dr. Eden participates in groundbreaking research and regularly publishes and presents across biology education research (BER), the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), and science communication. He is a champion for communication in his classroom, designing courses that place him in a facilitator role, encouraging students to ask deeper questions, form meaningful connections, and view science as part of their own narratives.
Dr. Eden contributes a valuable perspective on the power of affirming, narrative-rich instruction to create engagement in the STEM classroom. His continued work with USEA proves his dedication to preparing educators who help students see themselves as “scientists and storytellers of discovery.”
Kira Lowery, Member-at-Large
Science Teacher, Johnson High School, Buda, Texas
Kira Lowery teaches biology and chemistry at Johnson High School in Hays CISD. She earned her B.S. in Biology and certification in Secondary Composite Science from The University of Texas at Austin through the UTeach program and later completed a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with certification in STEM Education from Texas A&M University. Her teaching emphasizes student agency and authentic engagement in science.
Ms. Lowery actively integrates making and design into her instruction. After completing a micro-credential in maker education with UTeach Maker, she launched the first classroom makerspace at NYOS Charter School and later served as a UTeach Maker Mentor, supporting preservice teachers in developing creativity-centered learning environments. She has co-authored multiple educational publications to help other teachers adopt hands-on, student-driven approaches aligned with maker education principles.
Ms. Lowery remains closely connected to UTeach as a cooperating teacher and supporter of future STEM educators. She received the 2020 USEA Outstanding Alumnus Award, recognizing her leadership in designing learning experiences that cultivate curiosity and confidence in science. She continues to advocate for instructional practices that empower students to explore, innovate, and see themselves as engineers and scientists
Dr. Jacqueline Ekeoba, Member-at-Large, Alumni Representative
Clinical Assistant Professor/Master Teacher, teachHOUSTON, University of Houston
Dr. Jacqueline Ekeoba is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Master Teacher for the teachHOUSTON program at the University of Houston. An alumna of the University of Houston and a member of the inaugural teachHOUSTON cohort, she earned her M.A. in STEM Education and Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and her Ph.D. in STEM Education from Texas Tech University. She specializes in argumentation, global collaboration and STEM integration in secondary STEM contexts.
Dr. Ekeoba began her career teaching high school science before serving as an instructional coach and curriculum writer in Katy ISD, where she led the development of inquiry-based and hybrid instructional resources. She returned to UH in 2019 to mentor preservice teachers and support in-service teacher professional learning. She co-designed a teachHOUSTON STEM alternative certification program and plays key roles on grant-funded initiatives, including STEM RISE and Houston Genetics BIORETS. Her outreach work includes directing the teachHOUSTON STEM Interactive Program, which connected thousands of students worldwide with virtual STEM learning opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Ekeoba is actively engaged in service across the UTeach community, contributing to committees focused on alumni support, leadership development, strategic planning, and the UTeach STEM Educators Conference. Her professional achievements have been recognized through honors including Outstanding Teacher in Katy ISD and a UH Teaching Excellence Group Award.
Dr. Uchenna Emenaha Miles, Member-at-Large, Master Teacher Representative
Assistant Professor/Master Teacher, UTeachSA, The University of Texas at San Antonio
Dr. Uchenna Emenaha Miles is an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching and Co-Director of UTeachSA at The University of Texas at San Antonio. A former middle school science and high school biology teacher in Alief ISD in Houston, she earned bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Communication from Houston Christian University, as well as a Master’s Education from Texas Southern University and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston.
Dr. Emenaha Miles’s research and professional work focus on science teaching and learning in secondary STEM classrooms. Her scholarship explores how science instruction can connect to students’ lived experiences to deepen understanding and strengthen engagement in STEM learning. She has authored several journal articles, book chapters, and STEM curriculum resources. Her work has been featured in publications such as The American Biology Teacher and The Science Teacher. She also serves as co-editor of an upcoming UTeach special issue in the American Journal of STEM Education. Her forthcoming book, Social Context in Science Class: A Guide to Teaching Race and Identity (Grades 6–12), reflects her passion for transformative education.
Dr. Emenaha Miles is the recipient of multiple honors recognizing her leadership in science teacher education. She has been an active member of the USEA community, presenting sessions, planning and organizing aspects of the USEA engagement and reflection Hub at annual UTeach STEM Educators Conferences. She adds a valuable perspective to the Executive Board, informed by her experiences in the classroom and deep commitment to preparing future STEM educators.
Kimberly Hughes, Ex-Officio
Director, UTeach Institute
