Staff Directory
Dr. Tershia Pinder-Grover
Director
Dr. Tershia Pinder-Grover earned a B.S. degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1999, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2002 and 2006, respectively. She joined CRLT in August 2005 and became the director of CRLT-Engin in 2016. In this role, she leads a team focused on advancing engineering education in the College of Engineering (CoE) through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and cultivating individual relationships. In collaboration with the Associate Deans in the CoE, she provides leadership on educational priorities, especially as it relates to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She also works closely with department chairs to create customized programming to meet the needs of their faculty. Her current research interests focus on the adoption of inclusive teaching practices for engineering instructors.
Dr. Grenmarie Agresar
Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Grenmarie Agresar earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and Scientific Computation from the University of Michigan (U-M) in 1996. After completing a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering also from U-M, she switched majors to accommodate the courses that would best prepare her for her interdisciplinary thesis. Her professional path then took her from academia and research, to secondary education, where she taught engineering principles, physics, and computer science. This path included earning a M.A. in Education from U-M in 2009. As a teacher, she most enjoyed exploring high-leverage instructional practices, and collaborating with peers to develop curricula that utilized such methods. She is excited to combine her engineering background with her passion for innovative teaching in her role at CRLT-Engin.
Kellie Grasman
Assistant Director for Technology-Informed Pedagogy
Kellie Grasman earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1997, an M.Eng. in Manufacturing in 1998, and an M.S. in Industrial and Operations Engineering and M.B.A. in 1999, all from the University of Michigan, where she was a student in the Tauber Institute for Global Operations. After several years in industry, she spent nearly 20 years in a faculty role teaching undergraduate and graduate engineering students. She has more than a decade of experience designing and implementing online and hybrid learning environments in her own courses and serves as co-author on an award-winning engineering textbook, e-text, and online course environment. She is passionate about engineering education and eager to support impactful pedagogical practices in the College.
Dr. Patricia Jaimes
Instructional Consultant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Dr. Patricia Jaimes earned a B.S. degree in 2015 in Earth Science from Northeastern Illinois University, and a dual Ph.D. in 2021 in Geological Sciences and Environmental Science and Policy from Michigan State University (MSU). She is a STEM Education scholar and her research focuses on exploring the career trajectories of scientists from underrepresented groups using anti-deficit and critical race frameworks. Dr. Jaimes was a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow and a co-recipient of an NSF-INTERN grant which allowed her to intern for the Hispanic Latino Commission of Michigan. In 2018, she was recognized by the Cafe Bustelo Scholarship committee as one of the nation’s most driven Latinx students for her advocacy and scholarly work. In 2019, she received an Excellence in Diversity Award from MSU’s Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. Joining CRLT-Engin as an Instructional Consultant of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Dr. Jaimes supports the College in implementing the CoE’s DEI cultural shift goals and initiatives.
Dr. Audra Baleisis
Instructional Consultant
Dr. Audra Baleisis earned a B.S. in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Illinois in 1995, an M.Phil. in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge in 1996, and an M.S. in Astrophysics and a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Arizona in 2000 and 2009, respectively. She spent 2009-2016 living in Zurich, Switzerland where she worked in the Physics Education group at ETH University and as Academic Platform Coordinator for the Swiss National Science Foundation PlanetS exoplanet research program. She joined CRLT-Engin in 2016 as the ETC Program Coordinator, helping experienced Engineering Teaching Consultants (ETCs) provide CoE GSIs with instructional support.
Dr. Linjue (Jade) Wang
Instructional Consultant
Dr. Linjue (Jade) Wang recently received Ph.D. in Engineering Education and M.S. in Industrial Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University (2022). Her doctoral research focused on 1) how engineering students develop empathy during community-based learning (e.g., service-learning) and 2) how engineering educators can integrate empathy into their teaching. Before studying in the U.S., Linjue (Jade) earned her B.E. in Building Environment and Energy Engineering from the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University in China (2017). As the instructional consultant, she will support CRLT-Engin’s initiatives focusing on faculty and lecturer development within the College of Engineering.
Carol Lagemann
Financial Specialist and Event Planner
Carol Lagemann earned a B.A. in Music and an M.A. in Music from Truman State University, in 2006 and 2008, respectively. She also studied Music at the University of Michigan in 2011-2012. Carol previously worked for the University of Michigan in the Mechanical Engineering department in the College of Engineering. In her current role, Carol supports CRLT-Engin programs, maintains the program’s social media, and supports the CRLT-Engin Director.
Linda LaNoue
Program & Event Administrator
Linda LaNoue earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science with a concentration in Community Governance & Advocacy from Michigan State University in 2013. She earned her M.A. in Community Development from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2020. As the Program and Event Administrator for CRLT-Engin, she supports the organization and logistical aspects of programming especially the Engineering GSI Teaching Orientation, Engineering Teaching Consultants, and HTML communications.