Program Director
Dr. Chelsea Arnold was previously a high school Biology and Earth Science instructor in California. Chelsea joined the UC Merced CalTeach team as an instructor in 2009 as she was working on a Ph.D. in Environmental Systems (Soil Biogeochemistry and Environmental Soil Physics). Chelsea taught the lower division CalTeach courses until moving to the Program Director position in 2013. With a background in scientific research and K-12 science education, Chelsea is interested in research on best practices in teacher preparation in the natural sciences as well as how to better support existing teachers as they navigate the new science standards. Chelsea is also interested in the important role that social-emotional learning has to play in the learning of science and/or math. Chelsea and her team are currently working on a project investigating the role that early fieldwork has on teacher recruitment and retention in low-income schools.