Dr. Allison JoAnn Lester

Discover groundbreaking projects in inclusive education and community empowerment. From reshaping STEM education to addressing public health disparities, I'm driving change through innovative research.

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Funded Research & Community Initiatives

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Interdisciplinary Research on Educational Inclusivity, Intersectionality, and Formative Experiences of Belonging:

 

Creating a Thriving Inclusive Teen Ecosystem: An Action Research Project

• Role: Grant Writer, Director, & Evaluator

• Funding: $900,000 from the Jim Joseph Foundation & The Jewish Foundation

• Duration: December 2020 - Present

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Action Research Project: Designing a Fellowship for Interfaith Trans & Queer Young Adults

• Role: Grant Writer, Curriculum Developer, & Lead Facilitator

• Funding: $25,000 from Upstart's Collaboratory Challenge Grant

• Duration: December 2022 - 2023

 

“Where Do I Belong?”: A Youth Participatory Action Research Project by Multifaith LatinX & LGBTQIA+ Young People Resulting in the Development of the ish Garage

• Role: Grant Writer, Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist, & Lead Facilitator

• Funding: $2,000 from Women Helping Women, Cincinnati

• Duration: May 2021 - 2023

 

"Be About It, Love is a Practice": A Youth Participatory Action Research Photovoice Exhibit on Stories of Relationships & Belonging of Teens

• Role: Grant Writer, Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist, & Lead Facilitator

• Funding: $2,000 by Women Helping Women

• Duration: January 2023

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Empowering Voices Against Violence: A 'Black Lives Matter' Youth Participatory Action Research Initiative on Gun Violence & Police Brutality in Cincinnati

• Role: Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist

• Duration: June 2016 to August 2016

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Research in STEM/STEAM Education:

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Study to Assess Impact of Computational Thinking for Adolescents in Out-Of-School-Time STEAM Programming

• Roles: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

• Funding: $1,900 from University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant

• Duration: February 2019 - 2020

 

Digital Playscape: STEAM Center for Social Impact in Greater Cincinnati Area

• Roles: Grant Writer, Co-Director, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

• Funding: $15,000 from the People's Liberty Globe Grant

• Duration: November 2018 - August 2019

 

Digital Dimensions in Education: Integrating VR & AR within a 6th Grade STEAM Curriculum Aligned to Ohio State Standards

• Role: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

• Funding: $4,000 from the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative

• Duration: June 2018 - August 2018

 

Shadows and Algorithms: AI-Driven Shade Structure Redesign for 7th Grade STEAM Integration, in Partnership with Cincinnati Zoo & Aligned to Ohio State Standards

• Role: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

• Funding: $3,800 from the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative

• Duration: June 2018 - August 2018

 

Integrating Raspberry Pi Programming into 7th Grade STEAM Curriculum Aligned with Ohio State Standard

• Role: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

• Funding: $4,000 from the Greater Cincinnati STEM Collaborative

• Duration: June 2018 - August 2018

 

Leveraging VR & AR for Social Change in Multidisciplinary Middle School Curriculum 

• Roles: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

• Funding: $2,000 from University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Grant

• Duration: June 2017 - August 2017

 

Empowering Cultural Sustainability in High School Education: A YPAR Approach Using AI and Poetry in the 'Breakthrough Cincinnati TRIBE' Curriculum

• Roles: Grant Writer, Curriculum Designer, & Evaluator

• Funding: $2,000 from University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant

• Duration: June 2017 - August 2017

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Research in Educational Practices & Professional Development:

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Studying Learning Trajectories of Educators in Professional Development: A Practitioner Action Research Study

• Role: Co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Miriam Raider-Roth

• Funding: Mandel Teacher Educator Institute

• Duration: October 2019 - Present

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Building Bridges in the Virtual Classroom: Pre-Service Teachers Investigating Relationship-Building Practices with Learners Online During COVID in a Summer Academic Enrichment Program

• Role: Principal Investigator

• Funding: $4,000 from University of Cincinnati’s various grants

• Duration: May 2019 - 2022

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Two Programs Across the Country: Research & Reflection Partnership with Tisch Fellowship & ish's Emerging Artist Fellowship

• Role: Learning Partner with Tisch Fellowship

• Funding: $10,000 from Upstart's Spring Partnership Grant

• Duration: November 2021 - 2022

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Research in Community & Public Health:

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National Academy of Medicine Art Exhibit on Clinician Resilience: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine's (UCCM) Culture of Resiliency Study

• Role: Participatory Arts-based Research Method Consultant

• Project: Studied UCCM's culture of resiliency using a participatory arts-based research method

• Duration: February 2020

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Capturing the Food Environment of Low-Income Mothers

• Role: Photovoice Co-Facilitator & Research Assistant

• Funding: $13,000 from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Grant

• Duration: November 2015 to January 2016

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Youth Built Change: Public Health Disparities Impacting Youth in Cincinnati

• Role: Youth Participatory Action Research Methodologist, trained 40 high school students in youth participatory action research methodology

• Funding: National Institute of Health’s Science Education Partnership Award

• Duration: May 2018 - December 2018

 

Research in Early Education, Special Education, & Inclusion:

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Photovoice with Preschoolers: A Teacher Action Research Project

• Role: Action Researcher & Grant Writer

• Funding: $2,000 from University of Cincinnati CECH Technology and Instructional Design Grant

• Duration: August 2015 to May 2016

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Exclusion within Inclusion: Social Experiences of Preschoolers with IEPs

• Role: Principal Investigator & Grant Writer

• Funding: $1,800 from Arlitt Best Practices in Teaching Research Grant

• Duration: October 2014 - May 2015

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Using Big Data to Track Arlitt Student Kindergarten Success

• Role: Research Assistant & Grant Writer

• Funding: $3,000 from Arlitt Best Practices in Teaching Research Grant

• Duration: September 2014 to May 2016