Dive In With Me, Adventure Awaits!
Overview of Dr. Dee's Work
Welcome to DionneGerri.com, Dr. Dionne "Dee" Gerri's bio website. With a B.S. in Marine Biology and a Ph.D. in Science Education, Dr. Dee is a marine biologist and educator dedicated to environmental sustainability and inclusive science learning. Come join her as she embarks on a journey to teach SCUBA diving to diverse and historically marginalized science learners.
My Research
Igniting a passion for science while honoring the unique identities of African American learners, Dr. Dionne "Dee" Gerri is pioneering a path in science education that's as deep and captivating as the ocean itself. With a curriculum rich in culturally responsive, scientific activities, she's not just teaching SCUBA and swimming—she's creating waves of change. Dr. Dee's vision is a world where every dive and every discovery helps students navigate the aquatic world and their place within it. Her ultimate mission? To anchor this transformative experience in accessibility, aspiring to offer SCUBA education at no cost. Dive into the full scope of Dr. Dee's groundbreaking projects and see how she's turning tides in education below.
The Making of Black Scientists
Dr. Dionne Gerri's dissertation, "The Making of Black Scientists" studied the scientific, racial, and positional identity development of four African-American arners entering grades 3-6 as they engaged in scientific activities at a Black-centered summer camp. This work has won Dr. Gerri numerous honors including winning first place at the Florida State University (FSU) 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition.
Dr. Dionne Gerri has developed a powerful curriculum which helps teachers use culturally responsive pedagogy to help diverse students learn science in ways that provide opportunities for scientific and racial identity development. A major advantage of this development is it help learners see themselves as developing their racial and scientific identities in tandem, rather than feeling the need to shed one's racial or ethnic identity to persist and succeed in science.
Science and Technology Exist in Me (STEM) Curriculum
Dr. Dionne Gerri is conducting research to gain a better understanding of how to teach STEM so Black and Brown learners are able to imagine themselves as having futures in STEM. An ongoing project since 2018, Dr. Gerri teaches culturally responsive STEM to Black learners entering K-8th grade over the summer. This community-based work is fundamental in helping local Floridian learners value the knowledge and perspectives they bring as Black people.