TU professor helping to provide new technology for the local, campus community

By Kyle Hobstetter on October 15, 2024

After spending 25 years at her previous university, Mahnaz Moallem and her husband moved north to be closer to their two sons. While she relocated to be closer to her family, she’s making sure she’s doing the most to help her new communities.

When Moallem joined TU’s College of Education as a professor and chair of the Department of Learning Technologies, Design & School Library Media in 2018, she wanted to make sure that “She was determined to continue her research and scholarship while also serving as a department chair.”

“When I interviewed here, I was impressed with the faculty, the dean’s vision of the department and the college and collaboration and cohesiveness she had for the department,” Moallem says. “Seeing that vision made me believe that I’ll be successful here.”

This fall, Moallem was awarded the University System of Maryland’s Wilson H. Elkins Professorship, which supports professors and researchers who demonstrate exemplary ability to inspire students and whose professional work and scholarly endeavors make a positive impact at their institutions, across the USM and beyond.

Winners are provided a stipend that is intended to support compelling projects with a focus on research, scholarship or community engagement.

Moallem was awarded the Elkins professorship for her project: Breaking Barriers, Cultivating Young Girls' Interests in Computational Thinking, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Via University is Sponsored Enrichment Program.

“Receiving this competitive award is a testament to Dr. Moallem’s innovation and commitment to advocate for underserved populations,” says Laurie Mullen, dean of the College of Education. “This achievement not only elevates the College of Education’s commitment to serve our stakeholders but also inspires the entire academic community.”

With the funds from the professorship, Moallem and her team will work to establish computing and cybersecurity clubs for girls, while also serving as an internship site for teacher education students and a research and professional development hub for TU’s education faculty.

The current Girls Coding Club is a free program that allows TU to work with underserved female students from near by schools, ranging from third grade to seniors in high school, and have them learn coding from TU faculty members and teacher education students working toward their education degrees.

The goal now, with extra funding, is to provide this program for more underserved areas in Central Maryland, aiming to help close race and gender gaps in STEM professions.

While she appreciates the recognition, Moallem says that her goal is to continue to grow the program, and help as many in the community as possible.

“It’s so rewarding to come to the final session of the semester and watch these girls showcase the projects they have been working on,” Moallem says. “These girls are showing their computing skills and interest in computer science and STEM . And that’s what excites me. It’s not for the recognition; it’s to help serve my community, increase the number of women in STEM area, engage my faculty, and help our teacher education students be prepared for when they graduate.”

Her work with the Girls Coding Club is just one of many different projects Moallem has worked on since coming to TU. Another is her work with virtual reality in the classroom.  

Last summer, Moallem was awarded a grant from the Towson University Provost Research Fellows Program. This program encourages outstanding and ambitious research and creative activity at TU by awarding merit-based grants to faculty members.

Her work, Using Immersive Virtual Reality to Enhance Intercultural Sensitivity: An Empirical Study, aimed to develop and pilot test implementing an immersive VR intervention to enhance teacher education students' cultural sensitivity.

This research also assessed the efficacy of I-VR as a medium to develop empathy, emotion, motivation and desire to understand, appreciate and accept differences among cultures.

Bringing a virtual reality classroom to TU is just another way that Moallem is providing students with innovative technology and helping the next generation of teachers.

“My mission is serving the local and campus communities not only to foster meaningful engagement and social impact but also enrich academic knowledge and advance teaching and learning practices through real-world experiences and diverse perspectives.,” she says.