Gay Stewart

Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994
B.S., University of Arizona, 1988

At University of Arkansas (1994-2014), Gay focused on three interrelated issues: improving introductory courses, improving physics majors’ preparation for many careers options, and preparing future faculty, both high school and professoriate. NSF supported her work since 1995. UA saw a tenfold increase in physics graduates and was one of six initial Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) institutions. Her Graduate Teaching Assistant program grew into one of four NSF/AAPT “Shaping the Preparation of Future Science Faculty” sites. She was co-PI of an NSF GK-12 project placing fellows in middle school mathematics and science classrooms. Helping math and science teachers work together was central to her $7.3M NSF-Math Science Partnership, College Ready in Mathematics and Physics. She was PI of Noyce grants to support pre-service, and master physics, teachers. She chaired the College Board’s Science Academic Advisory Committee, co-chaired the AP Physics Redesign commission, and Development Committee. 

In 2014, Gay transitioned to West Virginia University, where she founded and directs the WVU Center for Excellence in STEM Education. Additionally, she is one of the PIs of one of the first NSF INCLUDES Alliances and directs many STEM education initiatives in partnership with other state organizations. A fellow of the APS and AAPT, Gay received the Oersted Medal from AAPT in 2019. John Stewart is her long-term collaborator.