Faculty Profiles

Colleges and Departments

Dr. Eleanor W Close

  • Professor - Physics

Education

Doctorate Degree

EDD in Education

Seattle Pacific University, 2009

Master's Degree

MS in Physics

University of Washington, 2003

Bachelor's Degree

BA in Physics

Bryn Mawr College, 1996

  • Van Dusen, Benjamin (Principal), Close, Eleanor W (Co-Principal), Nissen, Jayson (Co-Principal), Talbot, Robert (Co-Principal). Developing Faculty Resources of Evidence-based Practices that Improve Learning and Equity in STEM, National Science Foundation Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program), Federal, $2050450. (Submitted: March 2019, Funded: October 2019 - September 2024). Grant.
  • Close, Eleanor W (Principal), Close, Hunter Garth (Co-Principal), Huling, Leslie L (Co-Principal), Ortiz, Araceli Martinez (Co-Principal), Luxford, Cynthia J (Co-Principal). Responsive, Attentive, Dialogic, and InterActive Noyce Scholars Project, National Science Foundation, Federal, $1254627. (Funded: June 1, 2016 - May 31, 2023). Grant.
  • Ortiz, Araceli (Principal), Close, Eleanor (Co-Principal), Guirguis, Mina (Co-Principal), Novoa, Clara (Co-Principal), Talley, Kimberly Grau (Co-Principal). Texas State STEM Rising Stars, National Science Foundation Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) program, Federal, $1500000. (Funded: January 1, 2015 - January 31, 2020). Grant.
  • Close, Eleanor W (Principal), Olmstead, Alice R (Co-Principal). Learning Assistant Professional Development for Facilitation Practices in Active Learning STEM Courses, NSF, Federal, $28756. (Funded: October 1, 2024 - September 20, 2027). Grant.
  • Close, Eleanor W (Principal), Strickland, Sharon K (Co-Principal), Luxford, Cynthia J (Co-Principal), Van Overschelde, James P (Co-Principal), Collins, Kristina Henry (Co-Principal), Close, Hunter G (Supporting). Preparing Engaged STEM Teachers through Multi-level Peer Mentoring and Early Teaching Experiences, National Science Foundation Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, Federal, $1200000. (Submitted: August 31, 2022, Funded: June 15, 2023 - June 14, 2028). Grant.
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  • Olmstead, A. R., Montecinos, A., Castro, H., Atkinson, T., Close, E. W., Fitzgerald-Russell, M., … Hedge, K. (2026). Faculty and undergraduate Learning Assistants’ perspectives on barriers and supports for instructional change in introductory biology at a Hispanic-Serving Institution. CBE-Life Sciences Education, 25(2).
  • Feng, L., Close, E. W., Luxford, C. J., Pierson, J. A., Olmstead, A. R., Shim, J., … Galloway, H. C. (2025). Transforming Undergraduate STEM Education: The Learning Assistant Model and Student Retention and Graduation Rates. Research in Higher Education, 66(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-024-09823-5
  • Close, E. W., Jariwala, M., Otero, V., Price, E., Robertson, A. D., Sabella, M. S., & Sibert, J. (2024). Undergraduate Instructional Assistants. In D. A. Craig, S. McKagan, & C. Lannert (Eds.), A Guide to Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3). Retrieved from https://ep3guide.org/guide/undergraduate-instructional-assistants
  • Quichocho, X. R., Hyater-Adams, S., & Close, E. W. (2023). LA program as a driving force for identity development through access to ideational resources. In D. Jones, Q. Ryan, & A. Pawl (Eds.), 2023 Physics Education Research Conference Proceedings.
  • Shultz, M., Close, E. W., Nissen, J. M., & Van Dusen, B. (2023). Enacting Culturally Relevant Pedagogy when “Mathematics Has No Color”: Epistemological contradictions. International Journal of Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40753-023-00219-x
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  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Research, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University. September 2025
  • Award / Honor Recipient: College Achievement Award for Excellence in Service, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University. September 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Program to Watch: STEM Communities Learning Assistant Program, Excelencia in Education. August 2024
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in Service, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University. September 2022
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) 5+ Club, Physics Teacher Education Coalition. December 2021
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  1. Reviewer / Referee

    National Science Foundation

  2. Member

    Search Committee, Dean of the Honors College

  3. Member

    Academic Services Committee

  4. Member

    Research for EDucator Equity & Excellence (REDEE) Center Advisory Board

  5. Member

    Personnel Committee for Physics

  6. Other

    Society for Women in Physics student club, Texas State University

  7. View all activities