Joy Kubarek

Joy Kubarek is an Instructor in the Department of Education at Tufts University, School of Arts and Sciences. She is also a Co-Founder and Partner at Inform Evaluation & Research, a consulting firm specializing in education research and evaluation. Previously, she held leadership roles at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, including founding the Learning Planning & Evaluation department and serving as Vice President of Learning.

Education:

• PhD in Science Education, Illinois Institute of Technology (2014)
• MEd in Environmental Education, University of Minnesota Duluth (2006)
• BS in Biology, University of Minnesota (2003)

Research: Her work focuses on evaluating science education programs, particularly teacher professional development initiatives in zoos and aquariums. She emphasizes practical applications of evaluation frameworks in informal learning environments.

Affiliations:

• National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST)
• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
• Visitor Studies Association (VSA)
• National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)

Grants & Programs: She has contributed to program development at Tufts’ Department of Education, including initiatives like the BA/BS in Education and MS in STEM Education. Her career bridges academia and applied research in museum and aquarium education.