Ashley Gess

Ashley Gess is an Assistant Professor of STEAM education at Augusta University, affiliated with the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences and the Department of Computer & Cyber Sciences. She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Integrative STEM education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (2015), an MA in Education from Furman University (1995), and a BS in Biology/Biological Sciences from the College of Charleston (1988). Her teaching interests focus on integrative approaches to STEAM/STEM education, including design-based, place-based, and project-based learning methodologies.

• PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, 2015
• MA in Education, Furman University, 1995
• BS in Biology/Biological Sciences, College of Charleston, 1988

Her research explores how integrative STEAM/STEM educational strategies impact student self-efficacy and content knowledge, the effects of professional development on teacher self-efficacy, and the use of STEAM to foster wonder in K-16 science classrooms. Recent publications analyze the development and validation of the INSPECT (Interactive Nutrition Specific Physical Exam Competency Tool) and its applications in allied health education.

Dr. Gess has received multiple awards, including the ITEEA Educator to Watch (2021), Augusta University’s Education Innovation Award (2019), and the Outstanding Teaching Award (2019). She actively contributes to university and professional service through committee memberships, grant reviews, and board roles in STEM education organizations.