Biography
Dr. Tina J. Cartwright is a Professor of Science Education in the College of Education and Professional Development at Marshall University. She teaches Earth & Space Science and Physical Science courses for elementary education majors, preparing future teachers with strong content knowledge and instructional practices aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards. A former West Virginia State Climatologist, Dr. Cartwright draws on her background in meteorology to help students connect science to real-world contexts. She has been recognized for her teaching and scholarship with awards such as the Pickens-Queen Teaching Award and the Sarah Denman Faces of Appalachia Fellowship.
Her research focuses on how misconceptions about weather and climate influence public understanding of climate change, including a decade-long longitudinal study following Appalachian students from middle school into young adulthood. Dr. Cartwright also serves as Co-Principal Investigator on the NSF-funded S-STEM Project-Based Work Studio, which supports women in computer science and engineering, and she is the external evaluator for the NSF-funded Marshall FOCUS project, which is working to transform undergraduate STEM teaching and student outcomes through active learning and institutional change in the College of Science. Beyond the classroom, she mentors undergraduate and graduate students, supports teacher professional development, and contributes to national and international collaborations such as the GLOBE Program. Outside of her academic work, Dr. Cartwright enjoys traveling and playing pickleball.