Maxine Fontaine

Maxine Fontaine is a Teaching Associate Professor at the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, where she has served since 2021. Her academic career includes prior roles as a Teaching Assistant Professor at Stevens (2015–2021) and an Adjunct Professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology (2011–2015). She holds a PhD in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from Aalborg University (2010), an MS in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering from UC Davis (2006), and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin (2004).

• PhD (2010), Aalborg University: Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
• MS (2006), University of California, Davis: Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering
• BS (2004), University of Texas at Austin: Mechanical Engineering

Dr. Fontaine’s research bridges two critical domains: engineering pedagogy and diversity in engineering, with a focus on spatial ability training and adaptive expertise development. She investigates how spatial visualization workshops impact student performance, self-efficacy, and affective skills, particularly among low-income and first-year STEM students. Her biomechanics interests center on locomotion and human movement analysis, though this appears secondary to her educational research.

The 12 most recent publications highlight her longitudinal studies on spatial ability development (2019–2024), adaptive expertise metrics (2020–2023), and pedagogical innovations like open-source robotics for outreach (2023). Papers often address gender differences, socioeconomic factors, and educational equity, reflecting her commitment to inclusive engineering education.

Scientific Awards:

• 2020 Harvey N. Davis Distinguished Teaching Assistant Professor Award
• 2019 ASEE Zone I Best Overall Paper Award

Dr. Fontaine actively contributes to institutional service as a departmental faculty advisor, ASEE campus representative, and chair of the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. She leads initiatives like the Online Teaching Practices and Assessment Task Force and mentors students through programs like LAUNCH@Stevens and Women in Mechanical Engineering. Her professional service includes leadership roles in ASEE’s Mid-Atlantic Section, including past chairmanship and conference committee memberships.