Faculty Features

Dr. Heather Haeger

Associate Professor, Educational Policy Studies
Practice and Research Director of the STEM Learning Center Policy

Dr. Heather Haeger is the Research Director for the Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) Learning Center and an Associate Professor in Educational Policy Studies and Practice. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies and Practice from the University of Arizona. From 2011 to 2014, she served as Assistant Research Faculty at Indiana University’s Center for Postsecondary Research, where she contributed to the design and administration of nationally recognized student engagement surveys, including the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE). Her work expanded further at California State University, where she was Associate Director of Educational Research at the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center from 2014 to 2021. There, she led multiple large-scale grant initiatives, including National Science Foundation (NSF) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) programs and U.S. Department of Education Title III HSI-STEM and Articulation Programs, all aimed at increasing STEM degree attainment among historically marginalized populations. As principal investigator, she also mentored undergraduate researchers through the STEM Education Research Group, advancing equity-driven evaluation efforts for these grants. Her research is focused on equity in educational practices and barriers to full participation in STEM education. Her research is used to inform programmatic interventions aimed at engaging students that have been traditionally marginalized in higher education and creating more inclusive and culturally responsive STEM learning environments.

Heather Haeger

"I love creating games and activities for students to work through concepts and seeing these games being used on other campuses and seeing students enjoying them and learning through them brings me a lot of joy."

Who do you draw inspiration from and why?

My grandmother inspires me as an educator and as a person. She taught kindergarten for decades at Ochoa Elementary School in Tucson and was an educator to her core. She saw everything as an opportunity to learn and trusted students to direct their learning through curiosity and play.

What are one or two accomplishments of which you are most proud?

I love creating games and activities for students to work through concepts and seeing these games being used on other campuses and seeing students enjoying them and learning through them brings me a lot of joy. I recently published my first book, which is available through the UA Library and features one of my games "Sticky Situations: An Ethical Decision-Making Game.”

"My grandmother inspires me as an educator and as a person — she saw everything as an opportunity to learn and trusted students to direct their learning through curiosity and play."

What advice would you give to your younger self?

To embrace failure and mistakes as part of the learning process.

What is something you are working on currently that you’re excited about?

I have just wrapped up a couple larger projects including working with a cohort of incredible scholars in the Research on Educational Equity and Diversity in STEM Postdoctoral Fellow Program. I'm excited to see what's next.

"Embrace failure and mistakes as part of the learning process."

Explore Dr. Heather Haeger's Publications:

PAST FEATURES

Dr. Christina Rivera
Dr. Christina Rivera
Carol Brochin
Dr. Carol Brochin
Melody Buckner
Dr. Melody Buckner
matt ostermeyer headshot, standing outside under a sunny sky, wearing a black polo, arms crossed
Dr. Matt Ostermeyer
Cindy Cruz headshot, wearing eyeglasses, short black curly hair, plain blouse
Dr. Cindy Cruz
A warm and softly lit portrait of Dr. Sung Eun Jung smiling at the camera. She has long, dark hair and is wearing a cream-colored sweater with a delicate drop earring.
Dr. Sung Eun Jung
Professional portrait of Chi Nguyen smiling in front of a blurred background of colorful bookshelves. She wears glasses, dangling earrings, a delicate necklace with a round pendant, and a dark blazer over a light-colored top. Her hair is neatly styled, and she appears confident and approachable.
Dr. Chi Nguyen
Portrait of Lia Falco
Dr. Lia Falco
Ashley D. Domínguez
Dr. Ashley D. Domínguez
Yousra smiles in a professional headshot taken outdoors in front of green ivy. She wears a white collared shirt, a black blazer, and a delicate necklace, with long brown hair and natural makeup.
Dr. Yousra Abourehab
Adult and child hands gently holding a heart-shaped puzzle made of colorful interlocking pieces, symbolizing autism awareness, against a bright blue background.
Dr. MacFarland and Dr. Lansey
Portrait of Alex Lynch standing in front of a teal metal wall, wearing a black button-up shirt with white polka dots, and smiling slightly at the camera.
Alex Lynch
A person stands outdoors in front of a large agave plant and flowering bushes, with a red brick building in the background. They are smiling and wearing a light gray herringbone blazer with gold buttons over a white shirt. The lighting suggests it is a sunny day.
Dr. Z Nicolazzo
A woman stands smiling between two University of Arizona mascots, Wilbur and Wilma Wildcat. Wilma wears a cheerleading outfit with a red bow, and Wilbur wears a basketball uniform with the number 21 and a blue cowboy hat. They are outdoors in front of a stone wall and tree.
Dr. Crystal M. Soltero
Portrait of Katherine Cheng
Dr. Katherine (Kat) Cheng
A smiling woman with wavy gray hair and glasses resting on her head takes a selfie outdoors with a scenic landscape of rolling hills, trees, and a cloudy sky in the background. She is wearing a light blue jacket and appears to be on an elevated viewpoint.
Dr. Laurie Seder
Portrait of Dr. Desiree Vega, a woman with curly brown hair, smiling and posing with arms crossed. She is wearing a black blazer over a floral-patterned dress. The background features green plants and a modern rust-colored metal wall.
Dr. Desiree Vega
Craig Wilson
Dr. Craig Wilson
Portrait of Robert Berry, a bald man wearing glasses, a navy blue suit, white dress shirt, and a red tie. He is smiling and standing outdoors in front of green foliage, with a University of Arizona lapel pin on his suit jacket.
Dr. Robert Q. Berry III
adai tefera headshot
Dr. Adai Tefera
A smiling woman with curly black hair stands in a desert landscape during golden hour. She is wearing a colorful, patterned maxi dress with a high neckline. The background features cacti, desert shrubs, and distant mountains bathed in warm sunlight.
Dr. Renae Mayes
Portrait of a smiling woman with short, curly black hair, wearing pearl earrings, a mustard-yellow blouse, and a black cardigan. She is standing outdoors in front of large agave plants and greenery.
Dr. Sybil Durand
A smiling woman with long, dark dreadlocks wearing a red University of Arizona shirt takes a selfie in front of a bookshelf filled with books, awards, and a framed photograph
Dr. Dawn Demps
desiree cueto headshot
Dr. Desiree Cueto