Steve Coxon

Steve Coxon is a Professor of Education and Executive Director of the Center for Access and Achievement (CA²) at Maryville University's School of Education. CA² partners with schools and nonprofits to prepare pre-collegiate students for college and future careers through innovative STEM education initiatives, including robotics programs, AI integration projects, and statewide teacher certification.

Dr. Coxon earned his PhD in educational policy, planning, and leadership in gifted education administration from the College of William and Mary. His graduate studies include an MA in secondary curriculum and instruction and a BA in English (with biology minor and computer science concentration), both from Virginia Tech.

His research centers on spatial ability in gifted identification, particularly for underrepresented students, and the integration of robotics to enhance STEM learning and reverse the creativity crisis. He pioneered using LEGO robotics to develop spatial reasoning and has demonstrated how kindergarteners solve complex engineering problems beyond high-IQ peers, challenging traditional gifted assessment.

Publications reveal consistent focus on bridging gifted education with hands-on STEM: spatial ability measurement, creativity in robotics, and equitable curriculum design. His work shows increasing emphasis on AI integration and policy impact since 2014, with recent projects targeting systemic changes in gifted identification.

Notable awards include:

• Joyce VanTassel-Baska Award for Excellence in Gifted Education (2010)
• Laura Joyner Award from the Mensa Foundation (2020)

Dr. Coxon has secured major grants including National Science Foundation funding for AI-STEM integration with Tufts University, LEGO Foundation partnerships for play-to-learn curricula, and state policy initiatives that led to Missouri's gifted education mandate. His FutureSTL program trains teachers while providing coding camps and STEM explorations for K-12 students.

The Center for Access and Achievement (CA²) serves as his operational hub, managing partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and industry to deliver free STEM resources and professional development through platforms like maryville.edu/ca2 and First Bank Academy.