Martina Nieswandt

Martina Nieswandt received her Ph.D. from Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel, Germany, and is also a graduate of Ruhr University, Bochum. She was a researcher at the Leibnitz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (University of Kiel) and has held posts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, and Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Prior to joining Chapman University as its Vice President for Research, Nieswandt served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an institution that has become one of the fastest rising top-tier universities in the nation.

Nieswandt has a distinguished record of publishing more than 40 articles and two books on a range of topics related to STEM education, with a particular focus on chemistry and mathematics. Her research has been sustained by continuous funding (totaling more than $7.5 million) by the National Science Foundation, American Educational Research Association, the U.S. Department of Education and the German Science Foundation. Nieswandt has delivered numerous keynote addresses, invited presentations and workshops both nationally and internationally.

In her work as an educator, Nieswandt has offered a range of courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels on topics ranging from Science & Mathematics Curriculum and Qualitative Research Design & Practice to Theories of Learning & Teaching in STEM Education and Gender Issues in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education. She has served as advisor to numerous Master and Ph.D. students and was a Research Leader Fellow of the Council of Research of APLU (the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities) as well as a Leadership Fellow of H.E.R.S. (Higher Education Resource Services), a national leadership development organization committed to creating and sustaining a diverse network of women-leaders in higher education.

Nieswandt brings to the position of Vice President for Research extensive administrative experience. In her previous role as Associate Vice Chancellor at UMass Amherst, she oversaw the offices of Pre-Award, Research Communication and Project Management and Training. She monitored 67+ research-focused Centers and Institutes while facilitating the establishment of new research focused centers. She implemented new research administration software, revised a strategic plan for Information Technology with respect to Research IT, and developed a comprehensive blueprint for multi-dimensional measures/metrics for research and development addressing three areas: (i) Research productivity across disciplines, (ii) return on investment, and (iii) performance of research administrative services. Nieswandt has also expanded international research through her active involvement with The World-Wide University Network.

Nieswandt’s passion for research is further evidenced by her training and mentoring. She has provided multiple training opportunities for new staff in pre- and post-award activities, developed and conducted workshops for faculty and graduate students and mentored tenure-track faculty in research agenda and funding opportunities.