Dr. Rosengrant Bio
About Dr. Rosengrant
He earned his B.S. in Astro-Physics with a minor in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh. He learned towards the end of his undergraduate studies that working in the physics education field was his calling. Thus, he stayed at Pitt for his masters where he was able to work with Dr. Chandralekha Singh doing research with students understanding of concepts in energy and momentum. Having completed his Masters of Arts in Teaching degree he taught high school for three years at Bucks County Technical High School in Levittown, Pennsylvania. This classroom experience was priceless to help him gain a much deeper understanding of students’ beliefs and skills not only in the physical sciences but about science education and teaching as a whole.
From there, he attended Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and obtained his Educational Doctorate in Science Education with a research emphasis in Physics Education. He was blessed to be able to work with Dr. Eugenia Etkina and Dr. Alan Van Heuvelen and to learn about the Investigative Science Learning Environment. He was also very fortunate to work with individuals like Dr. Richard Duschl and Dr. Cindy Hmelo-silver as they helped him in his studies. Upon graduation, he spent nine years teaching Physics and Physical Science content and methods to students at Kennesaw State University. He was also involved with projects totaling over $7 million. Thus, he was able to conduct a great deal of professional development opportunities to teachers in the Atlanta Georgia area. Much of the projects he was involved with also helped KSU to be one of the first universities in the nation to receive the “5+ Club” award from PhysTec; a part of the American Physical Society which seeks to congratulate programs that graduate 5 or more physics teachers in a year.
Teaching is his passion and he has been blessed to be recognized for it. First, Dr. Rosengrant was awarded a College of Science and Mathematics Distinguished Award for Teaching for 2012-2013. Then in 2014 he was recognized by the Georgia Science Teachers Association for being the Teacher of the Year in Science for the University Level. Then in 2020, he was awarded The College Award for Excellence in Teaching in our College of Education.
As a Professor of STEM Education at the St. Petersburg campus Dr. Rosengrant brings his research interests (eye tracking, implementing video games and virtual reality into the classroom, multiple representations in problem solving, and STEM education recruitment issues) to the Tampa Bay area. If you are in the area and would like to work with him on any of these projects, please contact him via e-mail. This website is a laboratory environment for a few specific projects: video games in the physics classroom, augmented and virtual reality, and Physics and STEM Hero’s. Please utilize these resources in your own classroom. Now as Interim Director of Education at the St. Petersburg Campus, he gets to continue to help support not only students, but the faculty and community here at USF.