Research Team

Dr. Meagan R. Kendall is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Education and Leadership. As an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, she received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, with a concentration in Biomechanics, from The University of Texas at Austin. An engineering education researcher, her work focuses on enhancing engineering students' motivation, exploring engineering identity formation, engineering faculty development, developing integrated course sequences, and methods for involving students in curriculum development and teaching through Peer Designed Instruction.

Dr. Kendall's scholarship emphasizes the professional formation of engineers, specifically through the development and application of the Contextual Engineering Leadership Development framework. Bringing together her work in engineering leadership development, curriculum design, and collaborative design, her current focus is on developing engineering instructional faculty as leaders of educational change at Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Alexandra Coso Strong works and teaches at the intersection of engineering education, faculty development, and complex systems design. She joined Cornell University in 2024 after co-founding the School of Universal Computing, Construction and Engineering Education at Florida International University (FIU). As an assistant professor at FIU, she co-developed two degree programs, a Ph.D. in Engineering and Computing Education and a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Engineering. In addition, she held appointments in the STEM Transformation Institute, the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and the Department of Teaching and Learning.

Strong completed her doctorate in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech in 2014. While a doctoral student, Strong was a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow and a member of the Cognitive Engineering Center. The goal of her doctorate research was to improve students’ abilities to think more broadly about complex systems design and to take into account stakeholder-related considerations within their design projects. Prior to attending Georgia Tech, Strong received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from MIT (2007) and a master’s degree in systems engineering from the University of Virginia (2010). For her master’s degree work, she developed a mixed methods research design to examine undergraduate engineering students’ prior knowledge about interdisciplinary approaches to design and problem-solving. Strong continued her educational and professional journey as a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech’s Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and a faculty member at Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts (2015-2018).

Gemma Henderson, Director of Learning Platforms, Academic Systems, Innovation, and Experience at the University of Miami, collaborates with faculty, academic units, and stakeholders across the university. Her expertise lies in digital pedagogies and educational development, overseeing academic systems for communication, advising, engaging course design, and flexible educational experiences. Gemma actively participates in information technologies and educational initiatives, enhancing teaching and learning experiences.

Gemma is dedicated to enhancing the growth of higher education professionals to ultimately benefit student outcomes. Over the past decade, Gemma transitioned across roles in instructional design, faculty development, and course design support within institutions and organizations in Miami, Florida, and London, England. During this time, she led faculty development initiatives, communities, and events related to topics such as differentiated teaching, authentic assessments, narrative techniques, and 3-D technologies in undergraduate and graduate education. Gemma has also engaged in educational development research, professional development of graduate students and recently served as an adjunct lecturer in a first-year experience course at the University of Miami.

Currently, Gemma serves as the Curriculum Development Lead within the AMPLIFY Project. Her degrees include an MSc in Digital Education with Distinction from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in English and American Literature, from the University of Kent.

Dr. Basalo is an Associate Professor in Practice in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Miami. She has been teaching undergraduate courses since 2007, and her teaching experience includes courses in thermodynamics, materials science and lab courses, among others.

Dr. Basalo is part of the organizing committee for the Annual College of Engineering Senior Design Expo, where senior students showcase their Capstone projects to the University of Miami community, alumni, and industry leaders. She also serves as the academic advisor for SWE (Society of Women Engineers) and has recently been involved in redesigning the curriculum of the first-year courses. Prior to joining the University of Miami in 2014, she worked as an adjunct professor at Columbia University and the Cooper Union in New York City. She received her PhD from Columbia University in 2006, where her research focused on the mechanical and frictional properties of articular cartilage