Caitlin Kirby, Director
Caitlin Kirby is the Director of CERA, where she leads education research and evaluation in partnership with educators across the university. Dr. Kirby’s work aims to advance innovative, evidence-based teaching and learning at MSU. With an interdisciplinary background drawing on science education, environmental social sciences, and educational technology, she approaches collaborations with a breadth of knowledge and enjoys learning something new from each project. Dr. Kirby uses mixed-methods, quasi-experimental or action research to inform educators, craft policies, or improve the student experience.
Caitlin Kirby earned her Ph.D. as a dual degree in Science Education and Environmental Science & Policy from MSU. She has received two Fulbright awards to conduct research in Germany, once as a Ph.D. student studying urban agriculture and later as a scholar awardee to carry out a project on adaptive learning at the University of Tübingen.
Hala Sun, Associate Director
Dr. Hala Sun is the Associate Director of Assessment and Evaluation for CERA. She specializes in qualitative research methods, program evaluation, and teacher education, with a focus on AI literacy, inclusivity, and ethics in qualitative research, teaching, and learning contexts. She recently served as a Principal Investigator on the NSF STEM ReDDDoT grant, dedicated to training educators on integrating generative AI (genAI) and ethics into their work. She is also the PI on the AI-Ready Spartans grant, AI Escape Room, designed as a game-based immersion and collaborative problem-solving approach to strengthen students' AI literacy, ethics, and workforce readiness.
Her recent publications and presentations examine:
- the small and big ethics of genAI in education;
- teacher agency and inclusivity considerations (especially with multilingual students) when AI is integrated into curriculum and assessment;
- students' self-regulated learning (SRL) and ethical use when using genAI;
- responsible use of genAI in qualitative research; and
- game-based, experiential learning with genAI.
Before joining MSU, Dr. Sun worked as a Research Analyst/Program Evaluator at Oxnard College, designing and evaluating programs, as well as analyzing student success pathways, retention, and persistence levels in K-12 + community college; she played a key role in securing $6 million multi-year grants (e.g., HSI STEM, Title V) for the university. She received her Doctorate Degree (Ph.D.) in Education at the University of California Santa Barbara, with dual specializations in Applied Linguistics and Writing Studies.