Biography and education
Dr. Jonathan Vontsteen (Lollar) is the student development specialist for the IDEA Center. Jonathan is a first-gen student who attended TXST starting in 2015, first earning an MA in Applied Ethics and Philosophy and later a PhD in Developmental Education with a concentration in learning support. His research is focused on developmental education policy, learning frameworks course interventions, professional development, and prison education. Jonathan has taught philosophy (PHIL 1320, Ethics and Society) and a learning frameworks course in educational psychology (EDP 1350, Effective Learning), and has unique experience working with neurodiverse students, students inside prisons, low-income and first-generation students. Jonathan is the associate editor for the Journal of College Academic Support Programs and president of the Texas College Reading and Learning Association. He has won TXST’s Doctoral Merit Fellowship, the Julia Visor Award from the National College Learning Center Association, and the Carol Dochen Professional Development Award from the College Academic Support Programs conference.
Teaching Interests
Featured grants
- Qasem, Apan Muhammad (Principal), Royal, Cindy L (Co-Principal), Hewitt, Barbara A (Co-Principal), Dolezel, Diane M (Supporting), Omana Sudhakaran, Pratheesh O (Supporting), Lollar, Jonathan Ernest (Supporting), Booth, Chad (Co-Principal), Roundtree, Aimee Kendall (Supporting), Ekin, Tahir (Supporting), Cordero, Rafael A (Supporting), Lopez, Omar S (Supporting), Ashford-Hanserd, Shetay Nicole (Co-Principal), Sriraman, Vedaraman (Co-Principal), Forsythe, Michelle Elizabeth (Co-Principal), Mendez, Francis A (Supporting). STEM-CLEAR: Creating Contextualized Learning Pathways across Academic and Cultural Boundaries, National Science Foundation, Federal, $2646529. (Submitted: August 8, 2023, Funded: June 1, 2024 - June 2029). Grant.
Featured scholarly/creative works
- Summers, E. J., Mahmoudi, E., Vontsteen, J. E., Conner, K. A., & Wiedeman, M. C. (2025). Utilizing technology to efficiently connect students: A critical qualitative study of non-competitive gamification and AI additions to research courses. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 36(1), 1–18.
- Hodges, R. B., Payne, E. M., McConnell, M. C., Lollar, J. E., Guckert, D., Owens, S. L., … Shinn, H. B. (2020). Developmental education policy and reform: A 50-state snapshot. Journal of Developmental Education, 44(1), 2–17.
- Acee, T. W., Hodges, R. B., Vontsteen, J. E., Taylor, M. Z., Segovia, J. W., Wischnewsky, L. A., … Fathi, Z. (n.d.). Characteristics of learning-to-learn courses: Considerations for first-year experience programs. Journal of the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition.
- LeBlanc, T. R., Wischnewsky, L. A., Vontsteen, J. E., & Hodges, R. B. (n.d.). Neurodiversity and peer tutoring: A social justice approach. In Rowman and Littlefield handbook for peer tutoring.
- Vontsteen, J. E., McGuire, S. Y., Brocato, M., & Roche, L. (n.d.). Metacognition, Learning Strategies, and Peer Tutoring. In Rowman and Littlefield handbook for peer tutoring.
Featured awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Susan E. Hashway Outstanding Dissertation Award, National Organization for Student Success. 2025
- Award / Honor Recipient: Outstanding Professional Development Activity Award, College Reading and Learning Association. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Program of Promise, National Organization for Student Success. 2024
- Award / Honor Recipient: Cynthia L. Peterson Outstanding Article Award, College Reading and Learning Association. 2023
- Award / Honor Recipient: TADE Carol Dochen Professional Development Award, College Academic Support Programs. 2021
Featured service activities
- Other
Philosophy for Youth Program
- Other
International Business Ethics Case Competition