Senta Raizen: Biographical Sketch

Senta Raizen is Director of the National Center for Improving Science Education. Ms. Raizen has been involved in science education for over four decades, starting with her position as an NSF program officer. She has dealt with all aspects of science education, including curriculum improvement, assessment, professional development, program evaluation, and research and policy analysis, including the dissemination and use of research. As director of the National Center for Improving Science Education, she has led or participated in many projects aimed at science education reform for 2000 and beyond. In a study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, she originated a series of reports dealing with curriculum, teaching, and assessment reform in science education at the secondary and elementary school levels. She has led several major evaluation efforts, including evaluation of federally sponsored programs that provide preparation and professional development for science and math educators. She has served as advisor to several national and international student assessment programs (NAEP, TIMSS, PISA) and federal and private agencies (NCES, NASA, NAS/NRC, SRI). Ms. Raizen was a member of the NRC staff and served as a member of 3 NRC study committees. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from Guilford College and an M.A. in Physical Science from Bryn Mawr College.