Lead Investigator

Clausell Mathis

Hometown
Montgomery, AL

Interests/Hobbies
Music, Biking, Hiking, Sports, Camping, Golf, Exercising, Social Justice, Investing

What made you interested in our work
Throughout my academic journey, I have nurtured an unwavering passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Immersed in the culture of physics, this commitment profoundly influenced my research trajectory, driving my focus toward exploring avenues to foster greater equity within the field.

Main research project
Teacher Identity, Teacher Practice, Student Learning.

Dr. Clausell Mathis is an assistant professor at Michigan State University, holding a joint appointment with Lyman Briggs College and the Department of Teacher Education. At Lyman Briggs College, he imparts knowledge in physics and the senior capstone course, while at the Department of Teacher Education, he teaches the secondary science methods course. His research interests revolve around exploring how physics instructors can effectively incorporate culture-based equitable approaches in the classroom, leveraging students’ cultural resources to establish meaningful connections with physics phenomena. Dr. Mathis’ work at MSU centers on supporting teachers in developing culture-based instructional approaches to physics, encompassing three focal projects: teacher identity, teacher practice, and student learning and engagement.

Originally hailing from Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Mathis pursued his Bachelor of Science in Physics from Florida A&M University. He furthered his academic journey by obtaining a master’s degree in physics from the University of Central Florida. While initially pursuing a Ph.D. in physics, emphasizing cellular and molecular biophysics, he found himself disheartened by the traditional physics trajectory. Opting to explore alternative paths, he ventured into teaching high school and took up adjunct positions at community colleges. Eventually, driven by his passion for understanding how physics teachers can develop and enact culturally relevant instruction, Dr. Mathis returned to graduate school at Florida State University, culminating in the successful completion of his Ph.D.
During his postdoctoral tenure with the Physics Education group at the University of Washington-Seattle, Dr. Mathis contributed to two NSF-funded projects: energy and equity, alongside conceptual resources. Following this enriching experience, he embarked on his current role as an assistant professor at Michigan State University. Driven by a dedication to promoting inclusive physics education, he now endeavors to explore innovative methods to advance the integration of culture-based pedagogies in the teaching of physics.

Kindly refer to our projects page for specific details on our research projects.

Lyman Briggs College page
Department of Teacher Education page
Physics Education Research Lab page