After growing up in Palestine, Kattoum moved with her family to Chicago at age 9. She found a love of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education early in life and earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry from Loyola University. She then moved to Arkansas, earning two master鈥檚 degrees in chemistry and higher education from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

In 2014, Kattoum became a valued instructor in the Department of Chemistry, becoming the 2021 recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching for the Donaghey College of STEM. Over the years, she served as the freshman programs coordinator and teacher licensure program coordinator, a facilitator for the Mobile Institute on Scientific Teaching (MoSI), as well as helped start the Learning Assistants program with Dr. Mark Baillie, assistant professor of chemistry. It was the introduction of the MoSI workshop that became a game changer for Kattoum.

鈥淚 had already been an instructor for several years when Mark Baillie joined the faculty in 2019 and brought with him the MOSI workshop,鈥� Kattoum said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always experimented with different methodologies to engage my students, but I didn鈥檛 realize there was a science to teaching science. It was really a career changer for me that sparked my interest in working on my Ph.D.鈥�

Baillie, her longtime colleague, described Kattoum as a 鈥渢our de force,鈥� who secured more than $40,000 in external funding to support her research, invite speakers to campus, and fund undergraduate researchers. Since she started her doctoral program, she has presented during two international conferences each year and is on track to submit four peer-reviewed publications resulting from her dissertation.

鈥淭he impact of her research has the possibility to broaden the participation of students from historically marginalized groups in STEM, both at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and in the entire higher education system in the U.S.,鈥� Baillie said. 鈥淲e at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock are incredibly proud to have been part of Ronia鈥檚 career journey.鈥�

Kattoum began researching discipline-based education research focusing on chemistry education. She completed her dissertation, 鈥淎n Investigation of the Mindset Context and its Downstream Effects on Marginalized Student Outcomes in College STEM Courses鈥� this semester. She completed her doctoral degree while being a single mother of four kids, now ages 9, 14, 16, and 19, who were all excited to see their mom graduate.

鈥淚 was so excited to see my oldest son when he came to my defense,鈥� Kattoum said. 鈥淗e talked about how different it was to see me in action and how well I connected with people. My colleagues told me they saw the pride in his eyes. My parents and other kids watched me on Zoom. It was wonderful to have my kids experience my achievement with me.鈥�

This summer Kattoum will be conducting post-doctoral research with her 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock colleagues as well as moving into a new home before starting her new position as an assistant professor and chemistry education researcher at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

鈥淭his is a milestone I鈥檝e been looking forward to for a long time, and it鈥檚 the result of many sacrifices,鈥� Kattoum said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 start the Ph.D. program right away because of familial responsibilities. I always felt it was inevitable that I would come back and get this Ph.D. It鈥檚 a lifelong dream for me. It鈥檚 all about having a license to do what you love. I wanted to do research to help further student success in STEM disciplines, and now I have a platform to do that at Roosevelt University. I鈥檓 looking forward to how I can change the world, one institution and one student at a time.鈥�

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鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in science since the fifth grade,鈥� Rash said. 鈥淚 had an awesome science teacher, and we did experiments all the time. I always loved science and participating in science fairs.鈥�

Rash鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚 degree also comes with a concentration in secondary education. The graduating Little Rock native plans to teach science for grades 7-12, but her path to becoming an educator was far more complex than choosing biology, starting with the fact that she has previously sworn off teaching for good. She credits her change in heart to two inspiring teachers, Katrina Donoho and Stacy Stockton, at Sheridan High School who changed the course of her life.

鈥淚鈥檝e known I wanted to become a teacher since high school,鈥� Rash said. 鈥淚 grew up in a family of educators. I saw what they went through, and I told myself I would never be a teacher. During my senior year of high school, I had two teachers who really impacted me, and that is when I figured out what I wanted to do.鈥�

After seeing the positive impact that teachers can have on students, Rash started working at the Boys & Girls Club of Saline County in 2019, where she spends every afternoon mentoring and building relationships with students in grades 5-12.

鈥淢y favorite thing is the kids,鈥� Rash said. 鈥淚 love going there every afternoon and making a difference. I think they have taught me just as much as I鈥檝e taught them.鈥�

Rash earned her associate degree at the University of Arkansas 鈥� Pulaski Technical Institute before joining 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2021, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. She felt isolated during this time and said participating in the university鈥檚 Learning Assistants (LA) Program helped her gain teaching skills and confidence in her abilities. Learning assistants are peer mentors who are trained to help students understand class material using evidence-based practices like facilitated group work.

鈥淲hen I transferred during COVID, I didn鈥檛 know anybody and felt very isolated,鈥� Rash said. 鈥淚 was a learning assistant for Fundamentals of GOB Chemistry with Ronia Kattoum and later a learning assistant mentor. Being a learning assistant gave me a sense of belonging. It helped me believe in myself and give me the skills and confidence I needed to be a teacher. If it wasn鈥檛 for being an LA, I think I would have changed my mind about teaching. I wanted to be a teacher, but had never taught anybody before being a learning assistant.鈥�

Ronia Kattoum, advanced instructor of chemistry, said she loved watching Rash transform into one of the best learning assistants on campus.

鈥淪he is a fantastic student and loves helping kids, but many people discouraged her from teaching,鈥� Kattoum said. 鈥淭aking classes with us and being in the LA Program turned things around for her. Now she is graduating and applying to become a science teacher. I am very proud of her accomplishments and embracing teaching science.鈥�

Rash has recently finished her student teaching assignment at Bryant Junior High School, where she taught biology and physical science classes, and is now looking forward to the next step in her career.

鈥淔inishing up student teaching at Bryant Junior High was bittersweet,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 enjoyed learning from other teachers and getting to teach in an actual classroom. It made me excited to have my own classroom and students in the future.鈥�

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