Joelle Prate, Ph.D. in Education candidate, has been awarded Chapman University’s Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship for the 2024-2025 academic year. This honor recognizes Prate’s commitment to advancing science education and educational technology to enhance student learning, particularly at the elementary school level. 

A Journey Rooted in Science and Education 
Prate’s academic path began with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies focused on science education from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), followed by a single-subject teaching credential in biology and foundational science. Her experience in the classroom led her to pursue a master’s degree in educational technology in 2016, seeking to leverage technology to improve science teaching through differentiated instruction. This interest ultimately inspired her to pursue a doctorate, allowing her to focus and contribute research in science education and educational technology. 

Prate is part of the first cohort in the Teacher Education emphasis within the Ph.D. in Education program and will be the emphasis’s first graduate in Spring 2025. Her dissertation addresses a challenge she encountered firsthand as a former science teacher: implementing high-quality science instruction in K-12 settings. Collaborating with a local elementary school, she is exploring how virtual simulations can support fifth-grade students in enhancing their understanding of science and math, aiming to bring innovative, accessible solutions to the classroom. 

Guided by Supportive Mentorship 
Prate’s research is supported by her advisor, Dr. Jennifer E. Kong, with whom she began working as a research assistant. Dr. Kong’s expertise in single-case design methodology has been essential to Prate’s dissertation, and her mentorship has been invaluable throughout the research process. Prate is also grateful for the guidance of her committee members, Dr. Tara Barnhart (Chapman) and Dr. Tim Green (CSUF), and her mentors, Dr. Dawn Hunter (Chapman – Retired in Spring 2024) and Dr. Loretta Donovan (CSUF), all of whom have provided a strong network of support and insight. 

For more information on Attallah College’s Ph.D. in education, visit our site.