Sunyata Smith

Dr. Sunyata Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Middle and High School Science Education at Lehman College, CUNY. She holds a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and has over 15 years of scientific research experience. Transitioning to education through Teach for America (TFA) in 2012, she taught science in under-resourced schools in Harlem and Brooklyn before joining Lehman College.

Education:

• B.S., SUNY Old Westbury
• M.S., Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Research Interests: Dr. Smith focuses on contemplative pedagogy in STEM education, equity, belonging, and anti-racist teacher development. She has pioneered courses integrating mindfulness techniques to reduce student stress, such as an undergraduate course on the mind-body connection and professional development workshops for teachers. Her work highlights the impact of mindfulness on classroom management and teacher resilience.

Grants and Projects: In 2022, she secured a grant to study contemplative pedagogy's role in fostering STEM belonging and equity among students. She also leads a teacher training program for integrating computer science (CS) and 3D game development into curricula, aiming to enhance student engagement in STEM fields.

Labs/Teams: While no specific lab is named, her work involves collaborative professional learning communities for STEM teachers focused on contemplative practices and anti-racist pedagogy.

Advising and Grants: Dr. Smith mentors educators on adopting innovative teaching strategies. Her recent projects include a 3D game development teacher training program funded by a grant, assessing its impact on student motivation in CS and STEM.