Lecturer, STEM Education

Ed.D. Science Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
M.A.T. Biology, Montclair University
B.S. Biology, Montclair University

Dr. Kristen Napolitano joined Stony Brook University’s I-STEM as Lecturer in 2024. Prior to I-STEM, Dr. Napolitano worked four years as Senior Researcher at the Center for STEM Education at Mercy University where she led preK-12 STEM educator professional development, graduate courses in STEM education, and teacher leadership initiatives, including the Wipro Science Education Foundation’s Wipro Reimagined project. Her work on four NSF Noyce Teacher Scholarship projects gained her valuable insight into how we can best support pre-service and classroom teachers and nurture STEM teacher leadership in high need school districts. Dr. Napolitano completed her doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University in Science Education and Teacher Education. Her research focuses on teacher certification and accountability, teacher identity, and STEM teacher leadership. Dr. Napolitano is also passionate about community-based education and caregiver STEM identities.