ODU BLAST Administration Personnel

Dr. Cynthia Tomovic, PI,  Professor, Department of STEM Education and Professional Studies. At ODU and in her career, she has taught courses, conducted research, and consulted with organizations in leadership development and personnel supervision, impact of technology on society, organizational development and management, and globalization. Since joining, ODU, she has been involved in ODU’s Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Initiative, and Mitigation and Adaptation Research Institute. Before joining ODU in 2008, she served as Professor and Department Head in the Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 1982-2007, where she also served as a social science research associate in the Purdue Climate Change Research Center, and as a research associate in the Center for Product Lifecycle Management. She has participated as a reviewer for the National Science Foundation, and has served as a special auditor on leadership development for college and university national accrediting boards. In 2006, she began to work with Main Academy Global, United Kingdom, a nonprofit organization that seeks to communicate the importance of leadership in creating an inclusive and sustainable world. Dr. Tomovic earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, and M.S. in Organizational Behavior, from the University of Michigan; M.Ed. in Educational Program Evaluation and Research Design, and B.A. in Anthropology, from the University of Illinois, Chicago. She earned her ISO 9000 Lead Auditor in Training Certificate from the European Institute of Quality Assurance.

Dr. Vukica Jovanović, Co-PI, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Department of Engineering Technology, Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology. She is teaching classes in the areas of mechatronics, computer aided modeling, and computer integrated manufacturing. Dr. Jovanovic also serves as an ASME Robots for Relief co-adviser and formerly served as an IEEE Car Team co-adviser. She is an active member of the IEEE Hampton Roads Chapter. Prior to joining ODU’s Engineering Technology Department, Dr. Jovanovic taught at Trine University, Angola, Indiana in the Design Engineering Technology Department, and as a Lead Faculty of International Studies program for the Master of Leadership degree in the School of Professional Studies. Before Trine, she worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at Purdue University in the Mechanical Engineering Technology and Computer Graphics Technology departments. She also served as an instructor in the STEM Academic Boot Camp Diversity Program. Prior to joining Purdue, Dr. Jovanovic worked as a faculty member at the University of Novi Sad where she was actively involved in the European Robotic Association EUROBOT.  Before she came to the U.S., she served as Chair of the Organizing Committee for the Serbian National Robotic Competition in 2005 and 2006.

Virginia Space Grant Consortium Administration Personnel Supporting ODU BLAST

 Dr. Tysha Stanford, STEM Education Specialist, Virginia Space Grant Consortium. coordinates and lead all aspects of BLAST (Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology). Before this position, she worked as a Master Teacher for Virginia Space Grant Consortium. Before that, she was a Science Lead Teacher for science department at Newport News Public Schools, Newport News, Virginia.

Joyce Klubarek is STEM Education Specialist, Virginia Space Grant Consortium. She is dedicated and resourceful educator with proven ability to develop an environment that encourages open communication with colleagues, students and community, and to mentor teachers to implement class instruction, design lesson plans, and student assessment in conjunction with state learning regulations. Ability to analyze data and develop a plan to increase student achievement Also educate and train faculty members on best practices for higher student achievement while incorporating effective use of technology in the classroom and maintaining policies and practices that promote a safe learning environment.

ODU BLAST Planning Support

Elizabeth Smith,  Interdisciplinary Special Assistant, is responsible for assisting with planning and program development. Prior to 2014, she was a Research Assistant Professor with a “Self Supporting Research Position” in the Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography since 1993. Elizabeth served as a Program Manager for the Coastal and Environmental Research Program of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (from 2010-2014), and as Executive Director of the nascent Chesapeake Bay Observing System, part of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, and project coordinator for the Chesapeake Inundation Prediction System (from 2005-2010). Ms. Smith co-directed the Virginia Regional Competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl from 1998-2008 and has been involved in ocean education, outreach and teacher training through a myriad of projects since coming to ODU. After receiving a B.S. in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina and an M.S. in Oceanography from Florida State University , she joined the Satellite Oceanography Group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory where she spent several years working on early generation oceanographic data management systems before coming to ODU in 1993.