It is with great pride that I present the 2025 Annual Report for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) at Austin Peay State University. This report celebrates our collective achievements, spotlights the exceptional work of our faculty and students, and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to excellence in STEM education and research.
Throughout 2024-25, our college has achieved remarkable progress in advancing our mission to provide transformative, innovative, and engaging educational experiences. We have expanded our investment in pioneering research initiatives and strengthened our strategic partnerships with industry leaders, ensuring our graduates are exceptionally prepared for the evolving challenges and emerging opportunities of an increasingly technological world.
Within these pages, you will discover compelling narratives of groundbreaking research, unprecedented student achievements, and impactful community engagement that embody the spirit of innovation and collaboration defining our college. From our internationally recognized faculty to our accomplished student body, the Austin Peay College of STEM continues to flourish as a dynamic community of scholars, researchers, and leaders making meaningful contributions to society’s most pressing challenges.
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, we remain steadfast in our vision to establish Austin Peay as a recognized national leader in STEM education and research. I extend my sincere gratitude for your continued support of the Austin Peay College of STEM. As we celebrate our accomplishments in 2025, we recognize that our shared commitment to excellence is building a more promising future for our students, strengthening our community, and contributing to positive change across our interconnected world.
Regards,
Dr. Karen Meisch
Dean of the College of STEM
150
Acres of grassland restored by SGI
43
Peer-reviewed publications
5
Research & Scholarly Support Grants awarded
1,929
Students enrolled in CoSTEM in Fall 2024
The College of STEM's growth is fueled by incredible support from our donors and a rapidly expanding digital reach, connecting our stories with a global audience.
This powerful combination of community investment and digital visibility allows us to share our groundbreaking research, celebrate student success, and foster a vibrant, engaged network of supporters, alumni, and future Govs.
$801K
Contributed by donors
381M
Unique visitors to CoSTEM articles
21.7%
Increase in social media impressions
Last summer, pre-vet student Jordan Spencer took part in a life-changing journey to South Africa... These hands-on experiences enriched Spencer's education and solidified her career aspirations in wildlife conservation. "I want to work in wildlife rehabilitation and in zoos and in breeding programs to help bring some of these species back..."
Recent physics graduate Amaya Caudel was selected for a prestigious summer internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory... Her project leveraged the speed of machine learning algorithms...
Meleah Lanier and Jair Martinez won the overall competition with their wheeled litter project... a collaborative effort with Fort Campbell's EagleWerx Applied Tactical Innovation Center.
Four members of the aviation science family leapt into action after Hurricane Helene, flying in supplies to affected areas in North Carolina.
The college celebrated 39 master's graduates in biology, computer science and information technology, and mathematics in its first-ever hooding ceremony.
Senior mathematics major Christine Jator earned both of APSU's highest student recognitions, the first student in at least 30 years to take both honors in the same year.
Students from the college were the standout presenters at the OSRI symposium, sweeping the oral presentation awards and winning two of three poster awards at the graduate level.
Last summer, Dr. Madeline Giefer (Earth & Environmental Sciences) and Dr. Catherine Haase (Biology) traversed the shores of the Galapagos Islands to learn more about the human-wildlife conflict between people and sea lions. The duo plan to return in 2026 with more advanced equipment, including drones.
After serving as interim director since 2022, Dr. Stefan Woltmann was named the director of the Center of Excellence for Field Biology (CEFB).
Dr. Eugene Donev (Socrates Award), Dr. Audrey Bullock (Tenured Faculty Award), and Dr. J. Allyn Smith (Chamber ofCommerce Award) were recipients of top university honors.
The PBS documentary produced in partnership with the Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) at Austin Peay, featuring Dr. Dwayne Estes, won an Emmy Award.
CoSTEM faculty and students work culminated in more than 40 published scholarly articles. More than a third featured a current or former APSU student as an author.
A new lunch-and-learn style series launched to spotlight different groups and topics to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation within the college.
Dr. Saied Samadidana's new class on generative Al showcased semester-long projects in coding and generative imaging.
Dr. Amy Thompson, chair of Biology, studied how antimicrobial plant oils can facilitate bacterial and fungal growth in certain conditions.
The GIS Center is supporting a research project with Vanderbilt University and the Clarksville Street Department to enhance public safety using LIDAR technology.
The 114,600-square-foot Health Professions Building opened at the corner of Eighth and Marion Streets. Austin Peay's School of Nursing and the departments of Allied Health Sciences, Health and Human Performance, Psychology, and Social Work are now consolidated within the state-of-the-art building.
A refurbishment of the greenhouse allowed Zeus, our Titan Arum, to move back home. A new small-animal handling facility was also created for vet tech students.
A three-year agreement to provide state-of-the-art equipment resulted in the renaming of the farm to the Coleman Tractor APSU Farm Powered by Kubota.
The student success team grew, with Ajay Thompson ascending to director for the College of STEM. She leads an eight-person team to ensure students remain engaged.
New arrivals include Kiko goats, two Boer goats (Sparky Whistlepig and the G.O.A.T. Dolly), and Strawberry Shortcake, a 92-pound calf born on the farm.
Incoming freshmen in the "Students to STEM Professionals" program got a crash-course in the college thanks to a Google Grant earned by Dr. Meagan Mann. The program was funded by Google's Data Center Social Impact Team. Each student received a $500 scholarship and a new iPad.
Four CoSTEM projects earned Innovative Teaching Mini-Grants, including projects on VR game development, hair dyeing chemistry, and an AI-powered chemistry quiz app.
The GIS Center and Math department signed a 10-year Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) with Fort Campbell to conduct economic impact studies.
Austin Peay was recognized as a Master's: Larger, Research institution by the Carnegie Foundation, opening the door for expanded research opportunities.
The Wildlife Society, Tri-Beta, and GeoClub earned a CoSTEM Student Organization Support Initiative (SOSI) grant to fund on-campus events.
In March, Austin Peay and the College hosted the Tennessee State VEX Robotics Competition in the Dunn Center. This celebration brought together the top VEX V5 Robotics teams from all corners of Tennessee. This was the first time this state competition was hosted on a college campus, an honor for Austin Peay.
Featured innovative speakers, including News Channel 5 meteorologist Henry Rothenberg, who lectured on the December 2023 tornado.
The college revived its lecture series, welcoming Dr. Dawnie Wolfe Steadman, director of the "Body Farm." Dr. Temple Grandin is scheduled for October 2025.
Liquid nitrogen ice cream, beanies, and 3D printing proved a perfect complement to a 90-67 Austin Peay win!
Austin Peay kicked off the semester with a day of service for students, faculty and staff to give back to the Clarksville community.
CoSTEM students are collaborating with Fort Campbell's Eagle Werx Applied Tactical Innovation Center, a hub for solving military challenges.
The college collaborated with UAV Pro, Inc. to produce two drone shows at The New Year's Eve Celebration and hosted a free drone workshop on campus.
The Aviation Science program participated in the 2025 Easter Egg Hunt, dropping 2,000 eggs from a low-flying Robinson R44.
The College of STEM provides educational opportunities for students in the areas of agriculture, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, information technology, earth and environmental sciences, mathematics, statistics, medical laboratory science, radiologic sciences, physics, engineering physics, aviation and engineering technology. Our outstanding, discipline-based programs are student-centered and designed to prepare students for responsible positions at all levels of research, industry, education, medicine, and government. We emphasize degree programs relevant to regional economic and market trends, designed to enable graduates to compete in the global economy and foster lifelong learning skills.
Our mission is to promote scientific literacy while emphasizing the process, content, and interdisciplinary nature of science. Additionally, our mission is to develop critical thinking skills, to enhance verbal and written communication abilities, encourage reasoned debate on scientific issues, and promote civic responsibility.
Our goal is to provide professional training at the undergraduate and graduate levels, while serving as a foundation for careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as to provide training for allied health professionals and pre-professional training for careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary science and much more. In addition, we encourage collaborative research with faculty, internships, and other learning experiences that facilitate transition to work or graduate education.
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Update Your InfoThank you to all our College of STEM donors and supporters for your generosity in 2025. Your support enables us to provide exceptional resources, fund pioneering research, and create transformative opportunities for our students and faculty. We are deeply grateful for your commitment to our college and your investment in the future of STEM education and innovation as we move forward into 2026.
Explore the complete 2024-2025 College of STEM Annual Report for an in-depth look at our achievements and future goals.
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