Impact
For over 25 years, the Trefny Center has been a driving force behind innovative instruction at Mines, where deep-rooted tradition meets the future of pedagogy. Our team stands as a leader in educational research and is dedicated to empowering faculty with hands-on support that transforms the classroom experience and actively shapes the way the Mines community teaches and learns.
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
2025
- Carroll, L., Finelli C., & DesJardins, S. “The Role of College Experiences in Students’ Academic Success for Students With and Without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” Research in Higher Education.
- Swanson, B., Bingham, A., Sanders, M., & Moulton, C. “Mastery-based Testing in Linear Algebra: An Entry Point to Alternative Grading.” Teaching and Learning Inquiry.
2024
- Swanson, B., Carney, D., & Sanders, M. “Adapting and Sustaining Change: A Case Study of a Successful Calculus II Course Redesign During the Pandemic Years.” PRIMUS.
2020
- Carney, D., Sanders, M., Swanson, R., Spiegel, S., & Vasquez, A. “Calculus II Course Redesign: Supporting Faculty in Pedagogical Change.” PRIMUS. Special Issue on Departmental Change in Pre-calculus and Calculus Courses.
Recent Conference Presentations
2026
- Forthcoming. Carney, D., Nukala, P., & Strickland-Hughes, C.M. “Grades, Learning, and Reattempts: How Students Experience Outcomes-Based Testing.” Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education.
- Marshall-McKelvey, K., Csavina, K., Allam, Y., & Carroll, L. “Weaving EM Habit ‘Threads’ Into the Curriculum.” KEEN National Conference.
- Moulton, C. “AI in Education.” ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference.
- Moulton, C. & Sanders, M. “Entrepreneurial Mindset GPT: A Custom AI Tool for Effective Teaching.” KEEN National Conference.
- Nukala, P., Carney, D., & Strickland-Hughes, C.M. “Student Perceptions of Outcomes-Based Testing in Linear Algebra: A Mixed-Methods Study.” Joint Mathematics Meetings Symposium.
- Strickland-Hughes, C.M., Brewster, A., Hiebert, S., Ko, M., Signorini, A., & Slown, C. “From Their POV: Engaging Students in Defining and Measuring Learning.” 13th annual SLO Symposium.
2025
- Davia, C. & Strickland-Hughes, C.M. “Dimensions of Authenticity: A Framework for Thinking About Authentic Assessment.” POD Network Annual Conference.
- Davis-Hall, D. & Moulton, C. “Impact of Ungrading on Student Confidence in Capstone Engineering Design.” ASEE Annual Conference.
- Marshall-McKelvey, K. “Collaboration as Autonomy: How Faculty Autonomy Can Support Student Motivation in Coordinated Courses.” International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference.
- Moulton, C. & Marshall-McKelvey, K. “Beyond the Workshop: A Case Study of Building Sustainable Faculty Engagement Around Alternative Grading.” International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference.
- Moulton, C., Shumaker, L., Mancus, S., Swanson, B., & Beeler, S. “More Than a Workshop: Developing Sustainable Alternative Grading Practices.” The Grading Conference (Virtual).
- Strickland-Hughes, C.M. & Bheda, D. “Engage Students – From Consultants to Partners – in Learning Assessment: Spotlight Successes and Conquer Challenges.” Association of Learning in Higher Education.
- Strickland-Hughes, C.M. & Bheda, D. “Engage Students in Learning Assessment.” Association of Learning in Higher Education.
2024
- Mattjik, M. & Moulton, C. “GIFTs: Team Safety Brief—A Tool to Promote and Enhance Teamwork.” ASEE Annual Conference.
- Moulton, C. & Sanders, M. “Using the ‘TEACH’ Framework to Leverage Generative AI in Self-Guided Learning Experiences.” Hawaii International Conference on Education.
2023
- Moulton, C. & Nave, A.H. “Where to Start?: A Beginner’s Guide to Ungrading & Alternative Assessment.” ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Conference.
- Smith, J.M., Lucena, J.C., Moore, K.L., Munakata Marr, J., Sanders, M., & Shragge, J.C. “Board 299: Funds of Knowledge and Intersectional Experiences of Identity: Graduate Students’ Views of Their Undergraduate Experiences.” ASEE Annual Conference.
- Vaden, J.M., Dukes, A.A., Parrish, K., Nave, A.H., Landis, A.E., & Bilec, M.M. “Inclusive Engineering Classrooms and Learning Communities: Reflections and Lessons Learned from Three Partner Universities in Year 2.” ASEE Annual Conference.
2022
- Jordan, D., Spiegel, S., Sanders, M., Cutler, S., & Zappe, S. “Lessons Learned: Findings from an External Evaluation of a STEM Teaching and Learning Center.” ASEE Annual Conference.
- Mattjik, M., Sanders, M., Nave, A.H., Gur, W., & Lubis, M.H.M. “Studies on Teaming Experience Through Embedding Psychological Safety, Motivational Driver, and Cognitive Diversity into Pedagogy.” ASEE Zone IV Conference.
- Sanders, M. & Nave, A.H. “How Do We Show Our Impact?: Patterns in Annual Reports.” POD Network Annual Conference.
- Zappe, S., Cutler, S., Spiegel, S., & Jordan, D. “The Need for Domain-Specific Measures Regarding Mindset: Preliminary Analysis of the Engineering Mindset Scale.” Hawaii International Conference on Education.
10-Year Impact Report and Celebration
Highlights from the Trefny Center’s first 10 years include signature initiatives such as Early Course Feedback and Course Design Intensives as well as support for graduate students/post-docs and education research. As we celebrate a decade of impact, we also look ahead to more transformative teaching and learning at Mines.
In 2025, we marked 10 years of the Trefny Center and 25 years of innovative teaching at Mines with a celebratory lunch with colleagues that included talks from Trefny Center namesake, John Trefny and Trefny Center Director, Megan Sanders. Check out the slideshow, photo gallery, and video!