Robinson Leads LSU Team in Securing NSF Noyce Grant to Advance STEM Teacher Workforce

September 18, 2025

Petra RobinsonBATON ROUGE, LA - Petra A. Robinson, PhD, Interim Director of the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development in the College of Human Sciences & Education, has been awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program grant, totaling more than $550,000.

Robinson will serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on the multi-year project, joined by Co-Principal Investigators Bethany Hager (Louisiana A+ Schools, CHSE) and Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy, PhD (College of Science), with additional support from Golden Richard, PhD, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Director of LSU’s Cyber Center and its Applied Cybersecurity Lab.

This project reflects our commitment to supporting teachers as leaders in STEM innovation. By focusing on AI and cybersecurity education, we are equipping educators to prepare students for the rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Petra A. Robinson, PhD, Interim Director

Together, the LSU team along with LSU's highly technical cyber students will recruit and prepare 30 middle school STEM teachers in East Baton Rouge Parish over the next three years. Through on-campus summer intensives, place-based field research, and professional development experiences, participants will gain the tools to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity concepts into engaging classroom practice.

The LSU-led Noyce program underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and equity in STEM education, ensuring that students across Louisiana have access to high-quality, future-focused learning opportunities.

 


About the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development

The LSU School of Leadership & Human Resource Development (SLHRD) delivers premier programs crafted to shape exceptional leaders, expert practitioners, and distinguished educators in the field of Leadership and Human Resource Development. Offering BS, MS, and PhD degrees, SLHRD equips professionals with cutting-edge skills in leadership, strategic planning, critical analysis, problem-solving, and change management—key competencies essential for driving success in today’s dynamic global landscape.

About the College of Human Sciences & Education

The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, the School of Social Work, and the University Laboratory School. These combined schools offer 8 undergraduate degree programs, 18 graduate programs, and 7 online graduate degree and/or certificate programs, enrolling more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,120 graduate students. The College is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan.