Jillian DiBonaventura joined the STEM Education Center at WPI as Director of Teacher Preparation in 2022. She brings a wealth of experience to the role, with a diverse background in both classroom teaching and teacher education.

Jillian began her career teaching K-12 Music in Worcester Public Schools before transitioning to middle-level Science, which she taught for 26 years across the Worcester and Wachusett Regional School Districts. Her passion for the field of education led her to higher ed, where she has taught educational pedagogy and elementary science methods courses as an adjunct faculty member at American International College, Fitchburg State University, and Smith College. Prior to her role at WPI, Jillian served as the Coordinator of Teacher Education at Smith College.

Jillian is especially interested in inquiry-based teaching, mindfulness classroom practices, and applying the latest research from the learning sciences to educational settings. She is dedicated to supporting students through an equity lens, using differentiated instruction and the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to make STEM accessible for all learners.

A long-time asset to the Worcester community, Jillian also contributed to WPI as a Camp Reach instructor. She firmly believes that all students can succeed in rigorous academic environments when provided with the right levels of support. Jillian is excited to continue leading and growing the Teacher Preparation Program at WPI, helping to shape the next generation of STEM educators.