Stephen Cessna

Steve received his BA in chemistry and biochemistry in Colorado in 1991 and then taught middle school math and science in Lesotho in southern Africa. After returning to the US in 1995, getting married and moving to Indiana, Steve finished a PhD degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Purdue University in 2000. At EMU, Steve teaches courses in biochemistry, environmental chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, botany and sustainability.

Dr. Cessna’s research interests involve measuring terpenoid and phenolic compounds, as well as free radical oxidants and anti-oxidant in plants responding to stresses. He also studies science and environmental education research.

Presentations in the last 10 years:

S Cessna, Framing GOB chemistry content using medical case studies. A talk for the Biennial Conference for Chemical Education, University of Kentucky, August 2024

S Cessna The ‘knot of contradictions’: Dialectical tensions that describe the varied experiences and shifting attitudes of students in relation to the lab curriculum. A talk for the Biennial Conference for Chemical Education, Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN, July, 2018

S Cessna. How do you alter a university culture? A summary of interventions aimed at shifting a small college’s STEM division for better retention of under-represented groups. A talk for the Biennial Conference for Chemical Education, Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN, July, 2018

S Cessna, T Kishbaugh, Improving retention through teaching strategies and peer tutoring. A talk for the 254th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, Washington D.C., August, 2017

• Editor in Chief, JRSMTE: the Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education, 2020-2024
• Associate Editor, JRMTE, 2016-2020 and 2024-present

• "STEM Scholars Engaging in Local Problems" - A National Science Foundation SSTEM grant, $649, 998 (PI: Kishbaugh, Co-PIs: Cessna, Tian, King, Showalter) 2018
• “Faculty-Led Institutional Transformation for Teaching Diverse Learners in STEM” — A National Science Foundation IUSE grant , $299,967 (PI: Cessna, Co-PIs: Kishbaugh, Leaman, Lepley, Showalter) 2016
• Outstanding Associate Editor , 2014, Natural Sciences Education
• “Sustaining Organic Blueberry Production: Analysis of Practices and Assessing Outcomes” — A USDA Block Grant through the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (PI: Roman Miller , Co-PIs: Kishbaugh and Cessna ) $26,300, 2011
• “Promoting learning through authentic and relevant research experiences in environmental monitoring and remediation across ten chemistry and biology laboratory courses” — A National Science Foundation – CCLI grant (PI: Cessna, Co-PIs: Kishbaugh, Neufeld, Siderhurst and Leaman) $137,932; 5/09
• “Acquisition of Instrumentation to Support Integrated Research and Teaching in Interdisciplinary Environmental Plant Biology” — A National Science Foundation – Major Research Instrumentation grant (PI: Cessna; CoPI: Yoder) $103,130; 9/08
• “A sabbatical to investigate the relationships of protective measures against excess light, antioxidants, defense signals, and drought stress in plants” – A United States Department of Agriculture National Research Initiative, Agricultural Research Enhancement Award. $67,000; 5/07
• “LEEF for EMU” – A grant from LiCor , manufacturers of instrumentation for plant/crop assessment. $25,000 3/07 and 1/08
• “REU: Shenandoah Valley Molecular Biology” A National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Program, in collaboration with the biology departments at James Madison University and Bridgewater College. (PI: Rife; Co-PIs: Monroe, Temple; Co-administrators: Cessna and Puffenbarger) $216,000; 2/07-1/10.
• “Reactive oxygen production during salinity tolerance responses in tobacco cells: Relationship to Ca2+ fluxes” – A Jeffress Research Grant from the Thomas F. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust: Cessna SG $30,000; 1/02; First renewal: $10,000; 1/03; Second renewal: $10,000; 1/04

• American Chemical Society
• American Association for the Advancement of Science

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) (2025-present)
• Committee on Teacher Education (including the TEAC subcommittee), (ongoing)
• Pre-Professional Health Sciences Advisors Committee, (ongoing)
• Undergraduate Core Revision Committee (2020-2025)