kcchen
Office
157 West Street

Kathy Chen

 (she/her)
Exec Director, STEM Education
Affiliated Department or Office
Mechanical Engineering
STEM Education Center
Education
PhD Materials Science MIT
BS Materials Science Michigan State University
BA Chemistry Michigan State University

Kathy Chen joined The STEM Education Center at WPI after 15+ years as a professor in Materials Engineering at California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) State University, San Luis Obispo where she served as Department Chair and lead many K-12 and community STEM outreach activities. In her current role to support PreK-12 STEM educators, she works to broaden the participation of students in STEM (especially those from underrepresented and excluded groups) by advancing equity in education through holistic and innovative approaches. She also currently leads the Central MA STEM Network.

At Cal Poly, she helped create a successful engineering summer camp to inspire young students to consider engineering in college, directed a scholarship program for low-income, first generation engineering students, brought engineering into pre-service and in-service science and math teacher professional development, and was involved with several diversity and inclusivity initiatives to catalyze systemic change. She has also worked on research and education projects with collaborators at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Northwestern University, and Michigan State University.

Her current research interests revolve around how to support STEM educators in the many aspects and stages of an educator’s career (e.g., formation of identity as a teacher, developing inclusive pedagogy and curriculum in STEM, becoming a resilient leader in low-resourced schools, engaging STEM education ecosystems in communities).

kcchen

Kathy Chen

 (she/her)
Exec Director, STEM Education
Affiliated Department or Office
Mechanical Engineering
STEM Education Center
Education
PhD Materials Science MIT
BS Materials Science Michigan State University
BA Chemistry Michigan State University

Kathy Chen joined The STEM Education Center at WPI after 15+ years as a professor in Materials Engineering at California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) State University, San Luis Obispo where she served as Department Chair and lead many K-12 and community STEM outreach activities. In her current role to support PreK-12 STEM educators, she works to broaden the participation of students in STEM (especially those from underrepresented and excluded groups) by advancing equity in education through holistic and innovative approaches. She also currently leads the Central MA STEM Network.

At Cal Poly, she helped create a successful engineering summer camp to inspire young students to consider engineering in college, directed a scholarship program for low-income, first generation engineering students, brought engineering into pre-service and in-service science and math teacher professional development, and was involved with several diversity and inclusivity initiatives to catalyze systemic change. She has also worked on research and education projects with collaborators at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Northwestern University, and Michigan State University.

Her current research interests revolve around how to support STEM educators in the many aspects and stages of an educator’s career (e.g., formation of identity as a teacher, developing inclusive pedagogy and curriculum in STEM, becoming a resilient leader in low-resourced schools, engaging STEM education ecosystems in communities).

Office
157 West Street
ORCiD
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5428-7196
Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 4: Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 5: Gender Equality - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

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SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

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Preview Decent Work and Economic Growth Goal

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Reduce inequality within and among countries

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SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

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SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

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Research Interests
Engineering Education
PreK-12 STEM Education
Materials Phase Transformations and Characterization

Scholarly Work

K.C. Chen, T.F. Bruckerhoff, J. DiBonaventura, N. Robertson, & T. Noviello, “Integrating Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) competencies and approaches across a Teacher Preparation Program through a NSF Noyce program,” ASEE 2025.

K.C. Chen, N. Robertson,  T.F. Bruckerhoff, J. DiBonaventura, & T. Noviello, “Partnering with Community-Based Organizations to Support Pre-Service Teachers in developing Competencies in Culturally Responsive Teaching and Family Engagement (Work in Progress),” ASEE 2025. 

J. A. Rosewitz, K.C. Chen, D. Boucher, B. Raphino, “Change from within, not tearing down walls: Small S-STEM program success instigates institutional-level change at a private STEM university,” ASEE 2025. 

Y. D. Telliel, & K.C. Chen, (2025), “Ruminations on the NSF Broader Impacts Criterion: A Dialogue with Academic Researchers and Broader Impacts Professionals,” Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 17(2).

Chen K, Taylor D, Solovey E. Board 369: Research Experiences for Teachers (RET): Engineering for People and the Planet as Inspiration to Teach Integrated STEM. 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings. 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition; Portland, Oregon. ASEE Conferences; c2024. Available from: http://peer.asee.org/46952 DOI: 10.18260/1-2--46952

K.C. Chen, H. McDevitt, H. Vedogbeton, D. Boucher, A. Lane, B. Raphino, and O. Ayobami, “Imagining and Co-designing a Supportive College Experience for First Generation Students through an NSF S-STEM Program,” ASEE Annual Conference, June 2023.

Professional Affiliations
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
Advancing Research Impact in Society
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Association for Women in Science
Professional Highlights & Honors
Girls Inc. Worcester Outstanding Community Partner Award, 2023

News

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Announcements

Media Coverage

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Spectrum News 1
University’s involvement with Massachusetts STEM week

Spectrum News1 Worcester interviewed Kathy Chen, executive director of the STEM Education Center at WPI, and Nicole Anterni, director of sponsorship and events, about the university’s involvement with Massachusetts STEM week. Supported by the Governor’s office, the week highlights the importance of encouraging young people to get involved in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields.

Telegram.com
WPI Gets $1M Grant to Enroll Worcester Students in STEM

The Telegram & Gazette reported on the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarding WPI a $1 million grant to help low-income, high-achieving students earn a STEM degree from the university. WPI Director of Multicultural Affairs and Biomedical Engineering Professor Tiffiny Butler is principal investigator, while Katherine Chen, executive director of the STEM Education Center, is co-principal investigator.