Elizabeth A. Parry Bio
Project Director, RAMP-UP and K-12 STEM Curriculum Consultant
North Carolina State University College of Engineering
Elizabeth Parry is the project director of RAMP-UP (Recognizing Accelerated Math Potential in Underrepresented People), a five year $2.5 million grant program at NCSU funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 program and the GE Foundation. RAMP-UP’s primary goal is to increase the number and diversity of students who enroll and succeed in algebra by 8th grade and calculus by 12th. In addition, she is a consultant specializing in the integration of engineering principles and the design process into K-12 curriculum. Current projects include providing comprehensive professional development for the Rachel Freeman Elementary School of Engineering and Brentwood Magnet School of Engineering; serving as a professional development provider, regional field test partner and national dissemination pilot coordinator for the Museum of Science, Boston’s Engineering is Elementary curriculum program; and participating as a pilot test site coordinator and activity development writer for the upcoming NSF funded Family Engineering project. Ms. Parry’s research interests include learning style and pedagogical connections, assessment and evaluation of K-12 learning through engineering principles, the impact of both poverty and family on STEM attitudes and success and “preschool to practice” engineering topics related to pipeline, diversity, retention and outcomes. She is an active member in the American Society for Engineering Education and currently serves as the chair-elect of the K-12 division. Prior to joining NCSU, Ms. Parry worked in engineering and management positions at IBM Corporation for ten years and co-owned an informal science education business. Ms. Parry received her B.S. in Engineering Management/Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla (Missouri S&T).