About STEM ED

Sibrina N. Collins earned a PhD in inorganic chemistry from The Ohio State University and her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Wayne State University. She most recently served as Executive Director of STEM Education and Associate Professor of Practice in Chemistry at Lawrence Technological University. She has previously held appointments at Claflin University,
College of Wooster, University of Washington and The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Her research efforts include inorganic chemistry, chemical education, history of science and storytelling in the STEM fields. Dr. Collins has published in high-impact journals including the Journal of Chemical Education, the Bulletin for the History of Chemistry, Nature and Nature Chemistry.

Dr. Casey is a professor of mathematics education at Eastern Michigan Univeristy. Her research focuses on preparing secondary teachers to teach data literacy and statistics, motivated by her experience teaching secondary mathematics for fourteen years. She will be doing research on students' understandings of modern data visualizations in collaboration with the Univeristy of Canberra, Australia, as a Fulbright Scholar in 2024. Visit her prfessional website for more information. 

Hello, my name is José Hernández. I’m a bilingual professional with a background in law and a growing passion for mental health counseling. I earned my Licentiate of Law with honors from the Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP) in Mexico, where I focused on criminal law and provided legal support to underserved communities through the university’s legal service center. That experience shaped my commitment to advocacy and helping others navigate complex systems with dignity and care.

I’m currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Eastern Michigan University. Alongside my studies, I’ve worked as a graduate assistant in the College of Education, a bilingual liaison in public schools, and a Spanish teacher for elementary students. I’ve also supported clients virtually as a relationship coach and tutor, helping people build communication skills and academic confidence across cultures.

Whether I’m interpreting, mentoring young learners, or supporting individuals through personal challenges, I bring empathy, cultural awareness, and a deep respect for each person’s story. I’m passionate about working with people and believe that every interaction is an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect in meaningful ways.

Raj Rahman: Inspiring the Future of STEM

From a small village in Bangladesh to the STEM Education Institute at Eastern Michigan University, the journey of Raj Rahman truly depicts his passion for learning and innovation. Inspired by the science shows, Raj pursued mechanical engineering to design robotic prosthetics and thereby living his motto: "to be consumed in service".

The son of a military doctor, Raj grew up in 18 cities and went to 15 schools, building his adaptability and his connection with diverse people. His philosophy is simple: "Yesterday, I wasn't good at something; today, I'll master it; tomorrow, I'll teach it."

At STEM-Ed, Raj and his team collaborates with Toyota's Driving Possibilities initiative to bring experiential learning opportunities to students in K-12- hands-on robotics, field trips, and so forth. He has visited 12 states and 20 cities within the span of one year on the purpose of stirring the spark among the young.

Raj is also an American Red Cross-certified lifeguard, a Baja racing team member building 4x4 vehicles and racing them in SAE  Racing Competition, and fluent in Bengali, Hindi, English, and Urdu. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, cycling, cooking, and road trips, which exemplifies his commitment to lifelong learning and service.