RISE at Duke develops science education resources in pharmacology for teachers and students within the K-12 community. We provide professional development for teachers to use materials developed by RISE and its partners.
RISE is located in the Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology at Duke University Medical Center.

People | Mission | Partnerships

Rochelle D. Schwartz-Bloom, Ph.D., Director

Dr. Schwartz-Bloom was trained as a neuropharmacologist and has devoted her basic science research to understanding the mechanisms of neuroprotection after neuronal injury. Additionally, she has had a long-standing interest in science education. In 1994, she developed a research program at Duke University that applies science-based research to K-12 curriculum and professional development. In 2004, she was the recipient of the Science Education Award from the Society for Neuroscience. MORE »

Carolyn Weinbaum, Programs Coordinator

After spending years in the lab doing pharmacology research, Carolyn has joined the RISE team to manage and coordinate RISE activities and projects.

Suzanne S. Sikes, Ph.D., Project Director

Dr. Sikes obtained her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and has carried out neuroscience research for 15 years, including research in the field of alcohol pharmacology. Suzanne joined RISE in 2005 as Director of the Alcohol Pharmacology Education Project (APEP) and the Launch into Education About Pharmacology (LEAP) program.

Beth Sutton, Ph.D., Project Director

Dr. Sutton obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She spent two years as a Research Associate in the Duke Center for Human Genetics before joining RISE in 2008. Dr. Sutton is Director of a health education program about the harms of smoking.

 

Other partners

Myra J. Halpin, Ph.D. Chemistry Teacher, North Carolina School of Science and Math, Durham, NC; Co-director, the Pharmacology Education Partnership (PEP)

Dr. Halpin has been teaching chemistry for 35 years, and won the National Science Foundation Presidential Award for Science Teachers in 1995. She joined with Dr. Schwartz-Bloom in 1997 to develop the Pharmacology Education Partnership (PEP) and participates in professional development workshops given by RISE each year.

S. Mark Williams, Ph.D. Graphics and Website Design: Pyramis Studios, Inc.

Dr. Williams is a neurobiologist and graphic designer. He and his staff at Pyramis Studios have developed the Pharmacology Education Partnership (PEP) website and much of the graphic design. They provide graphic and website needs for RISE.