Rate My Professor Melinda VanDevelder

Melinda VanDevelder, Ph.D., is the VCU STEM SEED Coach and RTR Residency Coordinator in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. She teaches courses in the Department of Teaching and Learning and serves as the RTR Secondary Teacher Resident Coordinator and STEM Career Coach at the Center for Teacher Leadership. In these roles, Dr. VanDevelder coaches in-service STEM teachers participating in the RTR-SEED program, supports secondary pathway residents in the RTR Teacher Residency program, and contributes to the preparation of effective educators through residency-based training models. Her work focuses on enhancing STEM education and teacher development within public schools, drawing from her extensive experience in K-12 education.

Dr. VanDevelder earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2018, with a dissertation examining the implementation of state environmental literacy policy into a central Virginia school district. She holds an M.S. in Aquaculture and Fisheries from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a B.S. degree. Prior to joining VCU, she was a veteran public school teacher who received two Henrico21 21st Century Teaching Awards for innovative teaching practices. At VCU, she has been recognized for her service milestones and participates in federally funded grant initiatives supporting teacher residencies, such as those under the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. VanDevelder has also developed curriculum resources, including materials for the 'What's Bugging You?' educational series produced in collaboration with VPM and the VCU School of Education, emphasizing biology and environmental science topics for students. Her contributions extend to committee service, including dissertation committees in Educational Leadership, and she supports the broader mission of the School of Education through program coordination and teacher coaching.