Janice McDonnell

Rutgers University

Janice McDonnell is the Associate Dean of Research Impact at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), Rutgers University where she focuses on developing and implementing high quality STEM programs for young people. As part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the department of youth development focuses on providing experiences where young people learn by doing. Kids complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, and citizenship, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles.

Janice’s background is in marine sciences and has been a marine science educator in the Department of Marine & Coastal Sciences for twenty-five years. For ten years (2002-2012), she was the lead Investigator for the National Science Foundation’s Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence Networked Ocean World (COSEE-NOW), where the goal was to help scientists and educators work together to better communicate with others about the ocean through a data science lens. She is one of the co-authors of the Broader Impacts Toolkit (for researchers to help broaden participation in STEM), developed as part of COSEE-NOW. She also supports researchers in developing Broader Impact statements for their NSF proposals.