Gina Navoa Svarovsky

Gina Navoa Svarovsky is a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives, holding dual roles as Faculty Director of the Center for Broader Impacts and Interim Director of the Center for STEM Education. She is also an Associate Professor of the Practice. Her research focuses on STEM learning in formal and informal settings, particularly for underrepresented populations in engineering. Dr. Svarovsky earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Notre Dame and her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Her work emphasizes equitable access to engineering education, leveraging family engagement and community partnerships. She has led NSF-funded projects exploring informal STEM learning through initiatives like the Head Start on Engineering program. Key contributions include frameworks for early childhood engineering interest development and strategies for bridging theory and practice in STEM teacher leadership.

Dr. Svarovsky’s research bridges educational psychology and engineering education, with a focus on marginalized communities. She collaborates across disciplines to design inclusive learning environments and evaluates the impact of programs on long-term interest and skill development. Her work highlights the role of family systems in shaping STEM trajectories and the importance of culturally responsive pedagogy.