Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence

Kristin Lesseig is a remarkable scholar who has earned a national reputation in such areas as mathematical argumentation, teacher learning and access. She has published more than 30 articles in nationally and internationally recognized journals and has made presentations at nearly 50 national and international conferences, often to capacity audiences. She has brought in several large grants and often provides professional development opportunities for graduate students and others through her research.

A key area of Lesseig’s research involves analysis of student reasoning and sense-making through argumentation practices. Her findings have a profound influence on the teaching of mathematics, particularly in helping teachers find ways to make mathematics more meaningful and accessible for students. Her goal, broadly, is to humanize mathematics education—to make math more approachable and help students not to fear mathematics but to instead see themselves as mathematical sense-makers and become more confident in using math in their everyday lives.

Another key research area aims to diversify and strengthen the mathematics teacher workforce to better meet the needs of today’s students—a great need in Washington state and elsewhere. A current National Science Foundation Noyce project aims to increase the number of mathematics teachers from historically marginalized groups and, accordingly, teachers’ ability to incorporate culturally responsive mathematics teaching practices. In another recently awarded project, Lesseig is spearheading a $2.6 million grant-funded effort to help close racial gaps in STEM education by creating better paths for underrepresented groups to become STEM teachers. This project, a collaboration among several universities as well as scholars from different disciplines, has potential to impact STEM teacher preparation across the state and beyond.

Lesseig’s scholarship reaches beyond her research activity. In addition to mentoring doctoral students, she has served as a mentor to several Vancouver faculty members in the grant-writing process, including forging partnerships with local schools and agencies. She is generous with her time and knowledge. One nominator noted that Lesseig sees herself not as competing with her peers but “supporting all faculty so that we can experience success as a unit.” Her partnership-intensive approach to research is central to WSU Vancouver’s strategic goals.

Among many community and campus-wide activities, Lesseig has served on WSU Vancouver’s Research Advisory Council, as the Vice Chancellor’s Liaison to iTech Preparatory School and on the Council of Faculty Representatives. She serves on the board of the Washington State Math Council and volunteers at math and STEM events. She organizes a regional mathematics competition for area high schools each spring.

Lesseig earned her B.S. in mathematics from Truman State University in Missouri, her M.A. from the University of Northern Colorado, and her Ph.D. in mathematics education from Oregon State University. She joined WSU Vancouver in 2011.