Sara Brownell: Innovating Inclusive Biology Education in Universities

Trailblazing Path from Neuroscience to Biology Education Leadership

Sara Brownell stands at the forefront of biology education research, transforming how universities worldwide approach undergraduate STEM teaching. As President's Professor in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU), she bridges rigorous scientific inquiry with pedagogical innovation. Her work addresses persistent inequities in biology classrooms, ensuring that diverse students—from first-generation learners to those with concealable stigmatized identities—thrive in higher education environments. Brownell's research reveals that simple instructor disclosures, like sharing LGBTQ+ identities, can foster rapport and reduce student cognitive load, leading to better learning outcomes across identities.

Her transition from neuroscience PhD holder to education researcher exemplifies adaptability in academia. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cornell University in 2004, she advanced to a Master of Science in Biology from The Scripps Research Institute in 2007. At Stanford University, she completed a PhD in Biology in 2011, focusing on small heat shock proteins as anti-inflammatory agents for neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis and stroke. She simultaneously obtained a Master of Arts in Education, igniting her passion for teaching. Postdoctoral work at San Francisco State University and the University of Washington honed her expertise in science education.

Building Inclusive Foundations at Stanford and Early ASU Years

As a lecturer at Stanford from 2011 to 2012, Brownell developed inquiry-based laboratory courses and coordinated undergraduate teaching experiences. She pioneered Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)—structured class activities integrating authentic research—which democratize access to scientific discovery beyond elite labs. This laid groundwork for her 2014 move to ASU as Assistant Professor, where she rapidly ascended to Associate Professor in 2018, Professor in 2021, and President's Professor in 2023.

Early at ASU, Brownell tackled faculty barriers to change, identifying lack of training, time pressures, and identity tensions as key obstacles. Her seminal 2012 paper in CBE—Life Sciences Education outlined these, influencing national discussions on reforming lecture-heavy biology courses into active learning formats prevalent in modern universities.

Founding the Research for Inclusive STEM Education Center

In 2020, Brownell established the Research for Inclusive STEM Education (RISE) Center at ASU, directing efforts to study and disseminate inclusive practices. The center examines how active learning—group discussions, peer instruction—affects marginalized students, including those with anxiety, disabilities, or religious beliefs conflicting with evolution teaching. RISE's data-driven approach has produced over 100 peer-reviewed publications, with Brownell's Google Scholar profile boasting more than 14,600 citations.

Key initiatives include Religious Cultural Competence in Evolution Education (ReCCEE), distinguishing scientific 'how' from theological 'why' questions. Randomized studies show these practices boost evolution acceptance among religious undergraduates without alienating secular peers.

Exploring Concealable Stigmatized Identities in Classrooms

Brownell's lab delves into 'concealable stigmatized identities'—LGBTQ+, mental health challenges, religious affiliations—not visible like race or gender. A 2025 PLOS One study found undergraduates perceive instructors who voluntarily answer questions as more approachable, enhancing participation. Another in CBE—Life Sciences Education revealed nine LGBTQ+ biology instructors' disclosures benefited not just LGBTQ+ students but those with other marginalizations, improving belonging.

For instance, revealing depression in a large physiology course increased student rapport, as detailed in a 2024 Advances in Physiology Education paper. These findings challenge assumptions, showing brief disclosures (as little as three seconds) yield outsized benefits. For more on her methodologies, explore her detailed profile at ASU faculty page.

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Championing Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences

CUREs represent Brownell's hallmark innovation, scaling research to entire classes. Her 2014 CBE—Life Sciences Education article argued CUREs promote inclusivity by engaging non-traditional students. Recent grants, like a 2024 NSF IUSE for bioinformatics CUREs ($299,997), extend this online. A 2024 PLOS Computational Biology paper described an asynchronous genomics CURE, boosting skills for remote learners.

• Democratizes research: Reaches hundreds versus lab-limited spots.
• Builds equity: Supports community college transfers, underrepresented groups.
• Measures success: Frameworks assess gains in process skills, persistence.

Challenges include balancing teaching and research goals, addressed in her workshops worldwide.

RISE Ambassadors: Empowering Undergrads as Change Agents

Launched in 2023 under her Charter Professorship, the RISE Ambassadors program mentors undergraduates to lead inclusion projects. Participants co-author papers, create TikTok reels, and host workshops. Outcomes include publications on bipolar disclosure in med school apps and Muslim student experiences in biology peer groups. As profiled in a March 2026 ASU News article, ambassadors like Hailey Bunch and Analy Granados transformed personal insights into resources, amplifying RISE's reach.

PhD mentor Baylee Edwards facilitated three publications, while participants gained stats skills in low-pressure settings. This model inspires global universities to harness student agency for STEM reform.

Acclaim Through Prestigious Awards and Grants

Brownell's impact garners accolades: 2024 American Society for Cell Biology Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education, 2022 AAAS Fellow, 2021 NABT Evolution Education Award. ASU honors include 2023 Founders Day Teaching Achievement and President's Professorship. Details in her award announcement.

Funding exceeds millions: 2024 NSF Bio-LEAPS ($1.27M, Co-PI), HHMI Inclusive Excellence ($1M, 2018-2025). These sustain scalable interventions.

Global Influence on Higher Education Practices

Brownell's dissemination—371 trainee-led presentations, keynotes at SABER, ESERA—shapes curricula. Studies quantify impacts: optional retakes reduce anxiety but highlight equity gaps; aggregated demographic surveys build trust. Her lab's 2025-2026 papers in top journals like Advances in Physiology Education address mental health, instructor-student compatibility.

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Future Outlook: Sustaining Momentum in Biology Education

Looking ahead, Brownell eyes virtual field experiences (2024 NSF HSI grant) and faculty accommodation motivations. Her lab's focus on Gen Z needs, like Project GenZ at ASU, promises adaptive strategies. Globally, her model urges colleges to prioritize DBER—discipline-based education research—for retention amid STEM shortages.

Stakeholders praise her: Nominee Susan Walsh calls her a 'national leader.' For educators, actionable steps include ReCCEE training, CURE integration, identity-inclusive syllabi.

Actionable Insights for University Biology Departments

Brownell's corpus offers blueprints: Train faculty on voluntary participation to boost engagement; use storytelling in evolution units; pilot ambassador programs. Her work proves inclusive tweaks yield measurable gains—higher persistence, reduced disparities—positioning universities as equitable innovators.