معرفی
Lacey D. Huffling is an Associate Professor in Middle Grades & Secondary Education within the Department of Teaching and Learning at Georgia Southern University's College of Education, where she has been a faculty member since 2015. She also serves as an Affiliate with the Institute for Water & Health. Dr. Huffling maintains active research collaborations with institutions including the National Science Foundation, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and Wake Forest University.
Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Development from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2015), an M.Ed. in Biology Education from Wake Forest University (2008), and a B.S. in Biology and Ecology from Lee University (2003).
Dr. Huffling's research centers on science education with particular emphasis on environmental education, sustainability education, and teacher development. Her work bridges formal and informal educational settings, examining how to effectively integrate place-based and global perspectives in science teaching. Recent publications reveal a growing focus on Education for Sustainable Development aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as innovative approaches to online science teacher professional development that maintain meaningful human connection.
Analysis of her 128 research outputs (2009-2025) shows consistent productivity with peaks in 2012-2014 and ongoing projects through 2027. Her work spans from field ecology and herpetology toward broader sustainability education frameworks, demonstrating an evolving but cohesive research trajectory focused on making environmental science accessible and relevant to diverse learners.
Dr. Huffling has secured significant research funding including:
- RaMP: Mentoring and Research Opportunities for Careers in Coastal Science (MROC2S) - NSF-funded (2023-2027)
- Capacity Building Grants 2 of the Gulf Research Program (2019-2021)
- Okefenokee: Understanding real-world relevance through Suwanee Watershed assessment and monitoring project (2019-2021)
- Partnership Council grant at Georgia Southern University (2016-present)
- Wake Forest University Beginning Teacher Grant (2008-present)
Her advising focuses on preservice and in-service science teachers, with particular attention to developing their capacity to teach sustainability concepts and implement globally relevant science curricula. Dr. Huffling's research group explores environmental and sustainability education through field-based approaches that connect classroom learning to real-world ecological contexts, particularly watershed systems in the southeastern United States.
