LA Program Mission and Team

The Mission of the LA program at FIU

The Learning Assistant (LA) Program’s mission is to empower students through inclusive evidence-based STEM pedagogy practices. LAs help transform FIU classrooms by encouraging and motivating students to collaborate and deepen their understanding and own content knowledge. We aim to empower LAs and students at FIU to lead change in their classrooms and communities.

Meet the Program Team

Hagit Kornreich-Leshem, PhD

Research Assistant Professor, Director of the LA Program

Dr. Hagit Kornreich-Leshem is the Director of the Learning Assistant (LA) Program at FIU’s STEM Transformation Institute. She completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and her postdoctoral research in Chemical Biology at the University of Bonn in Germany. Hagit has been involved in science education since 2009 in K-12 and college settings. Her current work includes preparing Learning Assistants to facilitate student learning and supporting faculty who transform their classrooms into collaborative and inclusive learning environments. Her research interests include peer learning in collaborative setting and the effect of LA practices on student success and persistence in STEM majors. She is a co-PI on the multi-site NSF Beyond Active Learning Project and active with the LA Alliance led by the University of Colorado in Boulder.

Contact information: Office: VH 166, Phone: 305-348-7682, Email: hkornrei@fiu.edu

 

Karla Valdivia

LA Program Manager

Karla Valdivia is the Program Manager for the Learning Assistant Program. She completed her Bachelor’s in Psychology at FIU in 2019 and aspires to be a future doctor. Karla has worked with the program since 2016, starting off as a Learning Assistant for Biology and later Biochemistry . As the program Manager, Karla oversees program processes and works with the team to support faculty and LAs. She works closely with faculty to ensure that LA practices are implemented and allocates LAs according to faculty and course needs. As an undergraduate Karla was a member of FIU’s medical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon, devoting her college career to their philanthropy, the Children’s Miracle Network.  

 Contact information: Office: VH 160, Email: kvaldiv@fiu.edu

 

Lorenzo Pla

Data Analyst, Instructor 

Lorenzo Pla is the LA Program’s data analyst and software developer. As a data developer, he transforms spreadsheets into actionable code to streamline program processes and services. This includes using the R programming language to create interactive dashboards and web applications for faculty members and program leaders. Lorenzo started his journey with the LA Program as a Calculus I LA in Spring 2019. Since then, he has served over ten semesters across various subjects such as math, chemistry, and biology. Lorenzo now co-instructs LA Seminar. As for his career aspirations, Lorenzo intends to pursue his passion for science and data in the field of biostatistics, where he will utilize data to improve the health of our community.

Contact information: Office: VH 160, Email: lplaserr@fiu.edu

 

Kelsie Campbell

Program Assistant, Instructor

Kelsie Campbell is a program assistant in FIU’s Learning Assistant (LA) Program. Kelsie  completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in 2020. While at FIU, Kelsie worked as a Biochemistry LA for two. semesters. Kelsie has since completed her Master degrees in Epidemiology and International Business. She has also been a part of the FIU Swimming and Diving team during her time at FIU. As part of the LA team, Kelsie assists with the daily operations of the LA program and co-instructs the LA seminar. 

  

 

 Contact information: Office: VH 160, Email: kcampbel@fiu.edu

 

 Our team members go places!

Dr. Carla Abad was the Assistant Director of FIU’s Learning Assistant (LA) Program. Carla completed her Ph.D. in Developmental Science at FIU where she explored the influence of environmental factors, such as play and language, on the development of young children’s spatial skills. She then served as a POD Educational Development Intern at FIU’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching exploring and promoting student-centered teaching practices. She is now an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Psychology department at FIU.

 

 

Luis Valderrama Espina was the Program Coordinator and Research Data Analyst of FIU’s LA Program from 2017-2020. He became interested in working with the program while still a biochemistry LA. As an undergraduate at FIU, Luis was the president of FIU’s National Biological Honor Society, and member of Phi Beta Kappa. He joined the LA Program team after graduating with a B.S in Biological Science in 2017. As a member of the team, he co-taught the LA pedagogy course,  conducted research, supported course transformation, and coordinated LAs’ class placement.  He also completed research with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) at FIU as a part of the transformation of Scale-Up calculus classes. He is now at NSU Medical school working towards his dream of being a cardiologist and instructor pioneering medical education.

 

For general questions about the program, please contact us at laprogram@fiu.edu