WKU News

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Western Kentucky University will host INSIGHT, its inaugural five-day STEM teacher professional development camp, June 1–5, 2026.

The project meets the growing demand for STEM teacher development, particularly in rural and under-resourced school communities, by equipping educators to translate emerging technologies into classroom-ready learning experiences. 

Participating educators represent several Kentucky school districts, including Grayson County, Hart County, Warren County, Bardstown, Boone County, and Ashland. Funded by a $100,000 WKU TOP Grant from the WKU Office of the Provost, under Provost Bud Fischer, the program strengthens educators' confidence and the practical application of advanced STEM concepts.

An interdisciplinary team of WKU faculty and researchers from the Gordon Ford College of Business (GFCB), Ogden College of Science and Engineering (OCSE), and the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (CEBS) will instruct and mentor participants throughout the program. 

Keynote presentations feature nationally recognized STEM instructors from WKU, including Rick Tyler (SKyTeach), Dr. Desiree McDill (Psychological Sciences), and Dr. Kerrie McDaniel (Biological Sciences).

Dr. John Hostetter, Adam Brownlee, M.Sc., Dr. Andrea Paganelli, Dr. Richard Schugart, Dr. Hannah Digges Elliott, and Dr. Tugce Karatas will provide additional instructional expertise in analytics, data science, machine learning, and mathematics. Dr. Farhad Ashrafzadeh and Ali Buendia, M.Sc., along with engineering students Kenton Poynter, Max Owens, and Chloe Hawkins, will support robotics, block coding, and engineering sessions. Dr. Tuesdi Helbig, Director of WKU’s Office of Institutional Research, will lead the project evaluation to ensure continuous alignment with regional workforce goals.

Leadership for the initiative is spearheaded by Dr. Lily Popova Zhuhadar, Director, Center for Applied Data Analytics; Dr. Julia Link Roberts, Executive Director, The Center for Gifted Studies; and Tyler Clark, Assistant Director, Center for Gifted Studies.

The camp marks the launch of a broader, two-year INSIGHT initiative that will support ongoing teacher training, year-round mentoring, curriculum development, and classroom implementation. Educators will benefit from continuous support and resources for integrating AI and data science into their teaching practice, strengthening both individual skill sets and school-wide STEM capacity. This positions WKU as a regional and national leader in AI- and data science-integrated teacher development.

Sessions will take place at Amy & David Chandler Hall, home of the Gordon Ford College of Business.

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About the Gordon Ford College of Business: The Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University is dedicated to developing innovative business leaders through high-quality education, applied learning, and community engagement. The college offers nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate programs across accounting, business data analytics, economics, finance, management, and marketing. Through strong industry partnerships, experiential learning opportunities, and a commitment to student success, the Gordon Ford College of Business prepares graduates to lead in a global business environment. For more information visit, www.wku.edu/business.