Dr. Tracy Irish

Dr. Tracy Irish

Professor of Practice

tjirish@captechu.edu

Dr. Tracy Irish is a Professor of Practice at Capitol Technology University. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science with concentrations in biology, chemistry and a minor in botany from Southern Illinois University in 1982. Dr. Irish taught for Howard County Public Schools from 1997 to 1999 as a teacher in a technology magnet program. There, she taught high school students biotechnology, genetics, and coordinated student internships at local biotechnology companies and laboratories in colleges and universities. She earned her master's degree in Instructional Systems Design and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Dr. Irish has worked at four institutes across her career as a researcher in benchtop science and education. Her research interests include quality teaching and learning in STEM education, professional development for educators, and incorporation of STEM in traditional non-STEM fields.

Education

  • B.S., Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1982
  • M.A., Instructional Systems Design, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1997
  • Ph.D., Language Literacy & Culture Program, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 2016

Research & Publications 

  • Carbonetti, NH, Fuchs, T, Patamawenu, A, Irish, T, Deppisch, H, and Gross, R (1994) Effect of mutations causing overexpression of RNA polymerase α subunit on virulence factor regulation in Bordetella pertussis. Journal of Bacteriology 176:7267-7273. 

  • Carbonetti, NH, Irish, TJ, Chen, CH, O'Connell, CB, Hadley, GA, McNamara, U, Tuskan, RG, and Lewis, GK (1999) Intracellular delivery of a cytolytic T-lymphocyte epitope peptide by pertussis toxin to major histocompatibility complex class I without involvement of the cytosolic class I antigen processing pathway. Infection and Immunity 67:602-607.    

  • Carbonetti, NH, Romanshko, A, Irish, TJ (2000) Overexpression of RNA polymerase alpha subunit reduces transcription of Bvg-activated virulence genes in Bordetella pertussis. Journal of Bacteriology 182:529-531. 

Conference/Poster Presentations 

  • Jan. 2009: Developing STEM Academies through the STEM Academy Measurement Tool and STEM Intern Model Highlighting a Yearlong Internship. Math Science Partnership Program. National Science Foundation 

  • April 2009: STEM Intern Model Highlighting a Yearlong Internship. National Association of Research in Science Teaching 

  • Jan. 2010: The Master Teacher Development Program (Poster). Math Science Partnership Program National Science Foundation 

  • April 2010: Professional Learning Communities: A Strategic Framework for STEM Education through the Development of STEM Academies. American Education Research Association 

  • November 2015: Constructing STEM experiences for K-12 Teachers though Environmental Engineering Education, Bringing Perspectives to STEM Education. Maryland Association of Science Teaching 

  • March 2019: Computational Thinking within STEM MAE. Engineering and Computer Education Symposium, UMBC 

  • June 2019: Educational Leadership Tools. Visiting TESOL Scholars Professional Development Series, UMBC 

  • February 2020: Teaching and Learning Undergraduate STEM. UMBC CIRTL event 

  • March 2020: Increasing STEM Integration through Real World Environmental Engineering. ITEEA Conference  

  • May 2020: Introduction to Inclusive Teaching Through Case Studies. UMBC CIRTL event