Dr. Blessing Mupanduki is an Education Research and Evaluation Science Assessment Consultant/Education Programs Consultant for the California Department of Education (CDE). At the Department, he performs various administrative functions as the lead state science assessment specialist for the California statewide assessment program. At the national level, Dr. Mupanduki represents the CDE Assessment Division on the national Council of State Science Supervisors (CS³), where he collaboratively provides science education program expertise with other state science education experts from across the United States of America (U.S.) to a variety of audiences in the U.S. and internationally. He is also a Visiting Committee Member for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) where he collaborates with a diverse team of educators from across California in providing, to WASC, accreditation term recommendations for California schools. As a federal grant reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) STEM Projects and Initiatives, he collaborates with a diverse team of STEM and Career Technical Education (CTE) specialists nationwide in reviewing DOE grants for local, state, and national STEM programs. Dr. Mupanduki also reviews National Science Foundation (NSF) applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) awards. At the global level, he provides STEM and CTE program strategic plan designing, development, and implementation expertise to higher education and K–12 institutions across the Globe.

Dr. Mupanduki is also the Chairperson for the Global STEM Leadership Alliance (GSLA)—a global organization of STEM educators, researchers, and practitioners who represent global professional networks in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary education and out-of-school STEM businesses and professions. GSLA seeks to connect leading voices in STEM (and STEM education) from different regions of the Globe for mutual learning, exchange of ideas, and implementation of STEM education reform and development of STEM career pipelines. Currently, Dr. Mupanduki collaborates with Dr. Martin Storksdieck—Director for the Oregon State University’s (OSU’s) STEM Research Center and GSLA Chief Advisor—on international initiatives on STEM education program development and implementation.

Before assuming his current position with the CDE in 2010, Dr. Mupanduki worked in scientific research, science and mathematics education, and leadership capacities, nationally and internationally in Central America, Africa, and Europe, at the middle and high school, and college levels, in private and public education settings. In 2009, he was awarded the California Educational Research Association’s (CERA’s) Outstanding Educational Research Award, and represented California at the American Educational Research Association’s (AERA’s) 2010 Annual International Conference where he was also awarded a Distinguished Paper Award for his research in contextualized STEM education. Along the years, he developed an educational worldview and interest that amalgamates STEM education, scientific and educational research, in collaborative, transformational, and progressive teaching, learning, leadership, and empowerment that are grounded in mutual professional partnerships among school, community, national, and international change agents at all levels of education across national, continental, and cultural boundaries. He understands and greatly values the uniqueness and mutual benefits of diversity. Dr. Mupanduki holds a Master’s in Chemistry and Physics of Polymers (Materials Science and Engineering) and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, with a research focus on contextualized STEM (Chemistry and Mathematics) education.

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