Gabriela A. Stefan

Mrs. Stefan came to the United States of America, North Carolina with her family in June 2001, as a visitor with a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from the University of Bucharest, Romania.

After a few status changes and the associated hardships she taught for three years in a regular high school with very good results.

In 2004 she obtained her M.Ed. with Concentration in Physics from UNCP.

Mrs. Stefan worked for one year as a TA at NCSU and is thankful today that the Immigrations and Naturalization Service suggested her to find a job as a high school teacher and not at a higher level since she had to keep the same position she had when she applied for her working visa in the US.

This is how Mrs. Stefan happily joined the NCSSM Physics faculty in 2005. She was in fact the second in her family to "attend" NCSSM since her youngest daughter became part of the NCSSM family one year before her, in 2004 and graduated in 2006.

Mrs. Stefan loves music, nature, colors, people and enjoys finding ways of living a clean, healthy life. She likes teaching, nurturing and shaping young minds and souls.

Biography:

• B.A. Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest Romania

• M.Ed. Physics Concentration, UNCP

Instructor of Physics at NCSSM since 2005

Courses:

General Physics, Physics with Advanced Topics, Optics and Technology, AP Web-Physics B

Mini-Term:

 Switzerland-Italy Optics Mini Term 2007, Optics used by the Renaissance Painters 2008, Optics at Duke University 2009, San Francisco Physics Explorations 2009/2010 and 2010/2011

Academic Interest:

I am interested in actively engaging my students in understanding the physical world by constructing and using scientific models to describe, explain and predict as well as control physical phenomena. In my attempt to help students to develop skills in designing and interpreting lab practicums, I do enjoy using guided inquiry in teaching physics through demonstrations, hands-on and lab activities. I feel I am a lifelong learner and I am driven by a genuine scientific curiosity which makes me happily attend various workshops every year. My favorite ones so far are: Modeling Physics, PIRA Demonstrations and Optics and Photonics.

School Sponsored Extracurricular Activities:

• F E M M E S program through Duke University

• QUANTUM PHYSICS Seminar

• WORLD FOLKLORE Seminar

• Renewable Energy Sources

• R. E. N. C. I.

• L.A.S.E.R Club

Outreach Efforts:

• Presenter at NCS/AAPT at UNCP in 2009

• Physics Demonstrations for Discovery Day at NCSSM

• Open House at NCSSM since 2005

• Science Day Demos @ Elementary School bi-annual since 2006

• Summer Physics Course PH 150 taught at UNCP in 2007

• Expanding your Horizons - Career Conference at NCSU with the goal to increase young women's interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by exposing seventh grade girls from North Carolina to successful female role models in related fields.