Education
Ph.D. Science Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. October, 1997.
M.S. Science Education, Indiana University, Bloomington. May 1989.
B.S. Forest Biology, SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry in
association with Syracuse University. Syracuse, New York. May 1986.Teacher Certification: (grades 5-12), Biology, Chemistry, General Science, and Mathematics.
Foreign Languages: Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and French.Background
Dr. Ferreira joined the faculty in the Division of Teacher Education at Wayne State University in the fall, 1996. Before joining the Wayne State University's faculty she worked as a research assistant at Indiana University and taught high school biology and algebra. Originally from Portugal, she immigrated to the USA in 1980 and became an American Citizen in 1986. Besides Portugal and the United States Dr. Ferreira has lived in Angola, France, Poland and Russia.
WSU Courses
SCE 5010 Life Sciences for Elementary/Middle School Teachers
SCE 5040 Field Course: Understanding Our Environment
SCE 6080 Teaching Environmental Studies
TED 7000 - Introductory Master's Seminar (Science Majors)
ED 7999 - Terminal Master's Seminar (Science Majors)Research Focus
Dr. Ferreira's research focuses on the social contexts of education and how the culture of educational organizations facilitates or limits access to knowledge. She examines social contexts of education under two main areas: School culture within the construct of caring, and departmental culture as a reflection of the culture of science and its impact on gender equity in science and engineering.
Selected Publications
Ferreira, M. M. (2003). Gender issues related to graduate student attrition in two science
departments. International Journal of Science Education, 25(8), 969-989.
Ferreira, M. M. (2003). Gender differences in graduate students' perspectives on the culture of science. Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 9(2), 119-135.
Ferreira, M. M. (2002). Context factors related to women attrition from a graduate science program: A case study. Advancing Women in Leadership Journal, 12(1), 1-10.
Ferreira, M. M. (2002). Building communities through role models, mentors, and hands-on science. School Community Journal, 11(2), 27-37.
Ferreira, M. M. (2002). Ameliorating equity in science, mathematics, and engineering: A case study of an after-school science program. Equity and Excellence in Education, 35(1),
43-49.
Ferreira, M. M. (2002). The Research Lab: A Chilly Place for Graduate Women in Science.Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 8(1), 87-100.
Ferreira, M. M., Smith, G. R., & Bosworth (2002). Critical dimensions of the caring culture of an urban middle school. International Electronic Journal for Leadership in Learning, 6(2), 1-14.
Ferreira, M. M. (2001). The effects of an after-school science program on minority female students' attitudes toward science, mathematics, and engineering. Journal of School Research and Information, 19(2), 11-18.
Ferreira, M. M., Smith, G. R., & Bosworth, K. (2001). Metaphors as images of school culture. Journal of School Leadership, 11(2), 78-97.
Ferreira, M. M., & Bosworth, K. (2001). Defining caring teachers: Adolescents' perspective. Journal of Classroom Interaction, 36(1), 24-30.
Ferreira, M. M., & Bosworth, K. (2000). Context as a critical factor in young adolescents' concepts of caring. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 15(1), 117-128.Selected Grant Projects
2004-2008, Teaching for the Future: Science and Mathematics Scholarship Program. National Science Foundation (NSF). $394,000. Director and Principal Investigator
2004-2005, An Electronic Teacher Mentor for Improving Science Teacher Retention. Great Cities Universities (GCU). $17,000. Principal Investigator.
2003-2006, GK-12, Wayne State University/Detroit Public Schools Science and Mathematics Teaching Fellowship Program. National Science Foundation (NSF). $1,498,265. Co-Director and Co-PI.
2000-2002, GK-12, Detroit Science and Mathematics Education Fellowship Program. National Science Foundation (NSF). ($1,357,159). Co-Director and Co-PI.
2000, Transforming Teaching and Learning Through Technology. Great Cities Universities. ($22,000), Principal Investigator.
2001-2002, Using the Environment as an Integrating Context to Improve Michigan Pre-service Teacher Preparation. Dwight D. Eisenhower (through the Michigan Department of Education). ($98,696). Consortium Member.
1999-2000, Curriculum development and evaluation for an after school science
Program, Exxon Education Foundation in conjunction with The Society of Women Engineers. ($5,200), Principal Investigator.Selected Service Activities
WSU - Academic Senate, Research Committee, Curriculum Committee
Research on Women and Education (RWE), Board Member.
Equity Committee of the Association for the Education of Teachers in Science (AETS).
Liaisons with Professional Organizations Committee (AETS).
Anti-bias Review Committee, Michigan Department of Education.
Reviewer, Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering
m.ferreira@wayne.edu