Our Team

Our Team picture

Administrative Team

Valerie Otero, Ph.D.

Faculty Director
valerie.otero@colorado.edu303-492-7403

Dr. Otero is a Professor of Science Education at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializing in Physics Education Research. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and her M.S. and PhD from the University of California, San Diego. She is co-founder and executive director of the Colorado Learning Assistant program, the International Learning Assistant Alliance, and the Physics through Evidence, Empowerment through Reasoning (PEER Physics) Suite. Dr. Otero has advised the Nat...

Laurie Langdon, Ph.D.

Managing Director
laurie.langdon@colorado.edu303-492-3424

Laurie enjoys working with multiple stakeholders who are committed to ensuring all students have access to high quality education.  Laurie has always been drawn to the unique challenges of teaching and learning and finds the complexity of studying how students learn chemistry very rewarding. In her position as Science Teaching Fellow within the CU Science Education Initiative (SEI), she has had opportunities to work with faculty to develop course learning goals, assess student learning, and implement resear...

Betsy McIntosh, Ph.D.

Associate Director of LA Development, Assistant Teaching Professor of LA Pedagogy
betsy.mcintosh@colorado.edu303-492-7863

As Associate Director of LA Development, Betsy leads professional development for LAs from their first semester through participation as Returning LAs, LA Mentors, and student researchers for the LA Program. She focuses on connecting the various communities within the LA Program to one another to create a cohesive teaching and learning experience for LAs, Faculty, and LA Program staff.    Betsy is passionate about drawing connections across disciplines and improving educational access and outcomes for a...

Julie Blair

Program Manager
julie.blair@colorado.edu

As a program manager, Julie supports departments and faculty who work with LAs, and is a liaison between HR, Payroll, and all LAs to ensure all LAs are paid. She helps organize and facilitate the LA Orientations, Information Sessions, Poster Sessions, and the annual International LA Conference. She received her bachelor's degree in Integrative Physiology at CU Boulder.  Julie has been a part of the Learning Assistant Program team since 2015.

Grace Rexroth, Ph.D.

Assistant Teaching Professor of LA Pedagogy
grace.rexroth@colorado.edu

Grace Rexroth is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Science Education with the LA Program who is passionate about active learning practices and equitable teaching methods. She earned her Ph.D. in English Literature from CU Boulder, where she was a CHA Reynolds fellow specializing in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British literature and culture, women’s literature, and memory studies. Her interests in memory processes and the reading mind inspired further interest in pedagogical theory (how we teach and l...

Steve Iona, Ph.D.

Emeritus LA Pedagogy Instructor
steven.iona@Colorado.edu

Prior to joining the LA Program at CU in 2003, Steve enjoyed his time teaching high school science and mathematics for about 30 years in the Adams 12 Five Star School District. Simultaneously, he had many wonderful experiences working with teacher preparation programs including teaching the Science Methods courses for Metropolitan State University of Denver and for the University of Denver, being trained as a Mentor Teacher as part of the district's Induction Program, earning an administrative license, and ...