Below is a list of the research publications and presentations our team has worked on!
(*Mentored Graduate Student, **Mentored Undergraduate Student)
Below is a list of the research publications and presentations our team has worked on!
(*Mentored Graduate Student, **Mentored Undergraduate Student)
ACT-STEM Publication References
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Freeman, A.S., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Davis, L., Gardner, G. E., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Rushton, G. T., & Temilade Mafe, T. (2026). More Than the Sum: A Four Frames Analysis of Mathematics Departmental Teaching Culture. In Adiredja, A., Katz, B., Melhuish, K., & Gallagher, K. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 28th Annual Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education (pp. 1094 – 1099).
*Freeman, A. S., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K, Gardner, G. E. (2026). STEM graduate teaching assistants’ psychological needs for teaching: A scoping review of literature. International Journal of STEM Education. 13(11). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-026-00593-3
ACT-STEM Presentation References
*Mohr, C., Freeman, A.S., Adams, K., Davis, L., Gardner, G. E., Mafe, T., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Rushton, G. T., Wang, C., & Bleiler-Baxter, S. K. (2026, July 2). Clustering Perceived Satisfaction of Psychological Needs: Insights from Self-Determination Theory [Abstract Presentation]. International Self-Determination Theory Conference, Geneva, Switzerland.
*Freeman, A. S., Mohr, C., Adams, K., Davis, L., Gardner, G., Mafe, T., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Rhodes, J. Rushton, G., & Wang, C., Bleiler-Baxter, S. (2026, June 30) Introducing the Construct of Cultural Dissonance using Self Determination Theory and its Potential to Foster Change in STEM Departmental Teaching Cultures [Paper presentation]. International Self-Determination Theory Conference, Geneva, Switzerland.
Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Adams, K., Ayala, A., Davis, L., Freeman, A., Gardner, G., Mafe, T., Malone, A., Mohr, C., Nkuah, A., Rushton, G., & Wang, C. (2026, March 19). Beyond niceties: Strength-based debriefing of peer observation as a mechanism for deeper faculty reflection [Oral presentation]. Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference, AACU, virtual.
Bleiler-Baxter, S. K. (Invited, 2026, March 17). Teaching TRIOS: Lessons learned through a strength-based approach to peer observation [Online webinar]. STEM Seminar, sponsored by Arkansas State University, virtual.
*Nkuah, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Rushton, G. T., Freeman, A. S., Mohr, C., Gardner, G. E., Wang, C., Malone, A., Ayala, A., Davis, L., Mafe, T., & Adams, K. (2026, March 27). Inside a Chemistry Department: Cultural Conditions Shaping Faculty Engagement in Teaching Reforms [Poster presentation]. Scholars Week, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States.
*Wang, C., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Rushton, G. T., Adams, K., Ayala, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Davis, L., Freeman, A. S., Gardner, G. E., Mafe, T., Malone, A., Ayala, A., & Nkuah, A. (2026, March 27). Asymmetric matrix analysis of STEM departmental social network structure [Poster presentation]. 2026 College of Basic and Applied Sciences (CBAS) Scholars Day, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
*Nkuah, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Rushton, G. T., Freeman, A. S., Mohr, C., Gardner, G. E., Wang, C., Malone, A., Ayala, A., Davis, L., Mafe, T., & Adams, K. (2026, March 24). Inside a Chemistry Department: Cultural Conditions Shaping Faculty Engagement in Teaching Reforms [Poster presentation]. CBAS Day, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States.
*Wang, C., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Rushton, G. T., Adams, K., Ayala, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Davis, L., Freeman, A. S., Gardner, G. E., Mafe, T., Malone, A., & Nkuah, A. (2026, March 24). Characterizing social network structure using asymmetric matrix analysis [Poster presentation]. 2026 Scholars Week Poster Session, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Freeman, A. S., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Davis, L., Gardner, G. E., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Rushton, G. T., & Mafe, T. (2026, February). More than the sum: A four frames analysis of mathematics departmental teaching culture [Paper presentation]. 28th Annual Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education, Alexandria, VA, United States.
**Davis, L., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Mohr, C., Freeman, A. S., Malone, A., Wang, C., Nkuah, A., Adams, K., Mafe, T., Rushton, G. T., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, I. (2026, January 9). Bridging the gap between STEM teaching and student perspectives [Poster presentation]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
*Freeman, A. S., Davis, L., Mohr, C., Gardner, G. E., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Rushton, I., Rushton, G. T., Mafe, T., Wang, C., & Bleiler-Baxter, S. K. (2026, January 10). Understanding cultural dissonance and its potential to foster change in STEM departmental teaching cultures [Paper presentation]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference (SSERC), Birmingham, AL, United States.
Malone, A. (2026, January 9). Project management workshop [Workshop session]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Malone, A., Davis, L., Freeman, A. S., Gardner, G. E., Mohr, C., Nkuah, A., Rushton, I., Rushton, G. T., Mafe, T., Wang, C., & Bleiler-Baxter, S. K. (2026, January 9). From framework to fulfillment: Investigating Scrum’s role in supporting motivation through self-determination theory [Poster presentation]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference (SSERC), Birmingham, AL, United States.
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Freeman, A. S., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Davis, L., Gardner, G. E., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Rushton, G. T., & Mafe, T. (2026, January 7). Four frames inside the department: Exploring mathematics departmental teaching culture [Abstract presentation]. 2026 Joint Mathematics Meetings, Washington, D.C., United States.
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Freeman, A. S., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Davis, L., Gardner, G. E., Mafe, T., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Rushton, G. T., & Rushton, I. (2026, January 10). Framing teaching culture: A snapshot of mathematics departmental teaching culture [Abstract presentation]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference 2026, Birmingham, AL, United States.
*Nkuah, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Rushton, G. T., Freeman, A. S., Mohr, C., Gardner, G. E., Wang, C., Malone, A., Davis, L., Mafe, T., & Rushton, I. (2026, January 10). Exploring factors within chemistry departments which shape teaching innovation [Oral presentation]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Bleiler-Baxter, S. K. (Moderator), & Freeman, A. S. (Panelist). (2026, January 9). Early career panel [Panel discussion]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
*Mafe, T., Boyd, A., Boyd, E., & Hosbein, K. (2025, December 10). Examining how departmental norms and mentorship shape first-generation chemistry students’ motivation, science identity, and STEM persistence [Oral presentation]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Freeman, A. S., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Davis, L., Gardner, G. E., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Puente, A. R., Rushton, G. T., Rushton, I., & Mafe, T. (2025, August 7). More than the sum: A four frames analysis of mathematics departmental teaching culture [Poster presentation]. Mathematical Association of America MathFest, Sacramento, CA, United States.
*Freeman, A. S., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., & Gardner, G. E. (2025, July 11). Understanding the GTA experience: A scoping review of STEM GTAs’ psychological needs [Paper presentation]. Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER), Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Freeman, A. S., Rushton, G. T., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Nkuah, A., Wang, C., Malone, A., & Gardner, G. E. (2025, June 10). Teaching TRIOS: Lessons learned through a strength-based approach to peer observation [Oral presentation]. Transforming Institutions Conference, St. Louis, MO, United States.
*Freeman, A. S., Mohr, C., Gardner, G. E., Malone, A., Nkuah, A., Puente, A. R., Rushton, G. T., Wang, C., & Bleiler-Baxter, S. K. (2025, June 10). Unpacking department teaching culture through the lens of self-determination theory [Poster presentation]. Transforming Institutions Conference, St. Louis, MO, United States.
Malone, A., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Freeman, A. S., Gardner, G. E., Nkuah, A., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Rushton, G. T., & Wang, C. (2025, June 10). Behind the research: A team building and productivity case study [Poster presentation]. Transforming Institutions Conference, St. Louis, MO, United States.
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Freeman, A. S., Malone, A., Puente, A. R., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, June 10). Characterizing STEM departmental teaching culture: A literature review of the how, the why, and the what [Poster presentation]. Transforming Institutions Conference, St. Louis, MO, United States.
*Puente, A. R., Wang, C., Nkuah, A., Rushton, G. T., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Freeman, A. S., Gardner, G. E., Malone, A., & Mohr, C. (2025, June 10). Empowering STEM faculty: A theory of change grounded in self-determination and strengths-based reflection [Poster presentation]. Transforming Institutions Conference, St. Louis, MO, United States.
Bleiler-Baxter, S. K. (Invited, 2025, April 1). Teaching TRIOS: A strength-based approach to advancing the culture of teaching in STEM [Online webinar]. Online Seminar on Undergraduate Mathematics Education, sponsored by Harvard University, Cornell University, TPSEMath, AMS, and MAA. https://olsume.org/event/teaching-trios-a-strength-based-approach-to-advancing-the-culture-of-teaching-in-stem/
*Freeman, A. S., Foley, M., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Malone, A., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Wang, C., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, March 21). Measuring STEM department teaching culture: A survey developed using self-determination theory [Poster presentation]. Scholars Week, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States.
*Freeman, A. S., Foley, M., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Malone, A., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Wang, C., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, March 19). Measuring STEM department teaching culture: A survey developed using self-determination theory [Poster presentation]. COE Scholars’ Day, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States.
*Freeman, A. S., Foley, M., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Malone, A., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Wang, C., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, March 19). Measuring STEM department teaching culture: A survey developed using self-determination theory [Poster presentation]. CBAS Day, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States.
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Freeman, A. S., Malone, A., Puente, A. R., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, March 18). Catalyzing departmental change: A literature review of barriers, drivers, and framing [Poster presentation]. CBAS Day, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States.
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Freeman, A. S., Malone, A., Puente, A. R., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, March 1). Catalyzing departmental change: A literature review of barriers, drivers, and framing [Poster presentation]. 27th Annual Conference on Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education, Alexandria, VA, United States.
*Freeman, A. S., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Malone, A., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Wang, C., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, January 31). Measuring STEM department teaching culture: A survey developed using self-determination theory. Feedback Friday, Math and Science Education Program, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, United States.
*Freeman, A. S., Foley, M., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Malone, A., Mohr, C., Puente, A. R., Wang, C., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, conference canceled due to inclement weather). Measuring STEM department teaching culture: A survey developed using self-determination theory [Poster presentation]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference (SSERC), Birmingham, AL, United States.
*Mohr, C., Wang, C., Bleiler-Baxter, S. K., Foley, M., Freeman, A. S., Malone, A., Gardner, G. E., & Rushton, G. T. (2025, conference canceled due to inclement weather). Catalyzing departmental change: A literature review of barriers, drivers, and framing [Poster presentation]. Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference (SSERC), Birmingham, AL, United States.