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DEPARTMENT: Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science
POSITION: Professor of Biochemistry
LOCATION: Main Campus, Harrisonburg | SSC 026H
PHONE: (540) 432-4403
EMAIL: cessnas@emu.edu
Steve received his BA in chemistry and biochemistry in Colorado in 1991 and then taught middle school math and science in Lesotho in southern Africa. After returning to the US in 1995, getting married and moving to Indiana, Steve finished a PhD degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2000. At EMU, Steve teaches courses in introductory biology, chemistry, biochemistry, botany and sustainability.
He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, an international journal published by EMU in collaboration with Executive Editor Dr. Nuri Balta of Suleyman Demril University, Kazahkstan.
Dr. Cessna’s research interests include:
- STEM student retention
- Teaching the nature of science
- Measuring terpenoid, oxidant and anti-oxidant content in plants responding to stresses
- Comparing photosynthesis, terpenoids, antioxidant content, and growth of various plants in different stress conditions
BA, University of Colorado at Boulder (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
PHD, Purdue University (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Raber AG, Peachey-Stoner RJ, Cessna SG, Siderhurst MS (2021). Headspace GC-MS analysis of differences in intra- and interspecific terpene profiles of Picea pungens Engelm. and P. abies (L.) Karst. Phytochemistry 181, 112541
Balta N, Cessna S, and Kaliyeva A (2020). Surveying Kazakh high school students' attitudes and beliefs about physics and learning with the Colorado learning attitudes about science survey. Physics Education 55, 065019
Cessna S, Leaman L, Britt L. Border Crossings: A Narrative Framework for Interventions Aimed at Improving URM and First-Generation College Student Retention in STEM; In book: Increasing Retention of Under-Represented Students in STEM through Affective and Cognitive Interventions. Editors: Kishbaugh and Cessna, ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2018.
Kishbaugh T, Cessna S, Leaman L, Showalter D. Seeking To Improve Retention through Teaching Strategies and Peer Tutoring; In book: Increasing Retention of Under-Represented Students in STEM through Affective and Cognitive Interventions. Editors: Kishbaugh and Cessna, ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2018.
Kishbaugh T and Cessna S. Preface for book: Increasing Retention of Under-Represented Students in STEM through Affective and Cognitive Interventions. Editors: Kishbaugh and Cessna, ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 2018.
Cessna S, Graber Neufeld D, Horst SJ (2013). Teaching the nature of science in a course in sustainable agriculture Natural Sciences Education, 42, 36-42
Kishbaugh TLS, Cessna S, Horst SJ, Leaman L, Flanagan T, Graber Neufeld D, and Siderhurst S (2012). Measuring beyond content: a rubric bank for assessing skills in authentic research assignments in the sciences. Chemistry Education Research and Practice 13, 268-276
Cessna SG (2010). Classics Collection: Commentary on: Demmig et al., 1987. Photoinhibition and Zeaxanthin Formation in Intact Leaves. Plant Physiology 154,
Cessna SG (2010). Classics Collection: Commentary on: Apostol et al., 1989. Rapid Stimulation of an Oxidative Burst during Elicitation of Cultured Plant Cells. Plant Physiology, 154,
Cessna SG, Demmig-Adams B, Adams WW, (2010). Exploring Photosynthesis and Plant Stress Using Inexpensive Chlorophyll Fluorometers. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education 39, 22-30
Cessna SG, Kishbaugh TK, Graber Neufeld D, Cessna GA, (2009) Phytoremediation as a Multi-Week Laboratory Project for Teaching General Chemistry Thermodynamics and Equilibrium. Journal of Chemical Education 86, 726-729
Bolduc N, Lamb GN, Cessna SG, Brisson LF, (2007). Modulation of Bax Inhibitor-1 and calcium homeostasis by cytokinins in Nicotiana tabacum cells. Biochimie 89, 961
Cessna SG, Matsumoto TK, Lamb GN, Rice SJ, Hochstedler WW, (2007). The externally-derived portion of the hyperosmotic shock-activated cytosolic calcium pulse mediates adaptation to ionic stress in suspension-cultured tobacco cells. The Journal of Plant Physiology 164, 815-823
Cessna S, Kim J, Taylor A. Cytosolic Ca2+ pulses and protein kinase activation in the signal transduction pathways leading to the plant oxidative burst. J. Plant Biology, 46, 215
Tracie K Matsumoto, Amanda J Ellsmore, Stephen G Cessna, Philip S Low, José M Pardo, Ray A Bressan, Paul M Hasegawa. An osmotically induced cytosolic Ca2+ transient activates calcineurin signaling to mediate ion homeostasis and salt tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Biol. Chem. 277, 33075-
Cessna S and Low PS. Activation of the oxidative burst in aequorin-transformed Nicotiana tabacum cells is mediated by protein kinase-and anion channel-dependent release of Ca 2+ from internal stores. Planta 214, 126-
SG Cessna, MA Messerli, KR Robinson, PS Low. Measurement of stress-induced Ca2+ pulses in single aequorin-transformed tobacco cells. Cell Calcium, 30, 151-
Cessna S and Low PS. An apoplastic Ca2+ sensor regulates internal Ca2+ release in aequorin-transformed tobacco cells. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 10655-
Cessna S and Cessna G. Tie dye chemistry. The Science Teacher, 68, 25-
Stephen G Cessna, Valerie E Sears, Martin B Dickman, Philip S Low. Oxalic acid, a pathogenicity factor for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, suppresses the oxidative burst of the host plant. The Plant Cell, 12, 2191-
Sreeganga Chandra, Stephen G Cessna, Tami Yahraus, Randi Devine, Philip S Low. Homologous and heterologous desensitization and synergy in pathways leading to the soybean oxidative burst. Planta, 211, 736-
Stephen G Cessna, Sreeganga Chandra, Philip S Low. Hypo-osmotic shock of tobacco cells stimulates Ca2+ fluxes deriving first from external and then internal Ca2+ stores. J. Biol. Chem. 273, 27286-
Presentations in the last 10 years:
S Cessna The ‘knot of contradictions’: Dialectical tensions that describe the varied experiences and shifting attitudes of students in relation to the lab curriculum. A talk for the Biennial Conference for Chemical Education, Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN, July, 2018
S Cessna. How do you alter a university culture? A summary of interventions aimed at shifting a small college’s STEM division for better retention of under-represented groups. A talk for the Biennial Conference for Chemical Education, Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN, July, 2018
S Cessna, T Kishbaugh, Improving retention through teaching strategies and peer tutoring. A talk for the 254th American Chemical Society National Meeting and Exposition, Washington D.C., August, 2017
S Cessna, L Britt, A grounded theory study of undergraduate student identity and their (mis)understanding the nature of science and chemistry. A talk for the Biennial Conference for Chemistry Education, Northern Colorado University, Greeley, CO, August, 2016
S Cessna, A qualitative assessment of student experience of an authentic research project in general chemistry. A talk for the Biennial Conference for Chemistry Education, Northern Colorado University, Greeley, CO, August, 2016
S Cessna, T Kishbaugh, Early authentic research projects and teaching the nature of science. An invited talk for the Biennial Conference for Chemistry Education, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI, August 4, 2014
S Cessna, D Graber Neufeld, Promoting learning through authentic and relevant research experiences in environmental monitoring and remediation across ten chemistry and biology courses. A poster presentation to the Council for Undergraduate Research Pre-ISSOTL Symposium, October 2, 2013
S Cessna, Teaching the Nature of Science through Inquiry in Chemistry, an invited presentation for the Summer Physics and Chemistry Modeling Workshops for High School Teachers , Ohio State STEM Outreach, New Albany High School, New Albany, OH, 6/27/2013
S Cessna, T Kishbaugh. Promoting learning through authentic and relevant research experiences in environmental monitoring and remediation across ten chemistry and biology courses. Invited poster presentation to the NSF/AAAS TUES/CCLI Primary Investigators Biannual Meeting, Washington D.C. 2/2013
S Cessna, T Kishbaugh. Workshop: Authentic Research Projects in the Teaching Lab: Inception, Implementation, and Assessment for Learning, NSF/AAAS TUES/CCLI Primary Investigators Biannual Meeting , Washington D.C., 2/2013
S Cessna, L Leaman. Promoting learning through authentic and relevant research experiences in environmental monitoring and remediation across ten chemistry and biology courses. Invited oral presentation to the 244th Biannual Meeting of the American Chemical Society , Philadelphia, PA, 8/2012
T Kishbaugh, S Cessna, D Graber Neufeld. Service learning to enhance the environmental chemistry curriculum. Oral presentation to the 22nd Biennial Conference on Chemistry Education, State College, PA, 8/1/2012
S Cessna, T Kishbaugh. Tracking the development of the nature of science understanding over an undergraduate STEM career. Oral presentation to the 22nd Biennial Conference on Chemistry Education, State College, PA, 8/1/2012
S Cessna, T Kishbaugh. A report on using copper phytoremediation projects for teaching second semester general chemistry concepts and skills. Invited oral presentation to the 22nd Biennial Conference on Chemistry Education, State College, PA, 7/31/2012
T Kishbaugh, S Cessna. Implementing a ‘Research Across the Curriculum’ program in the chemistry and biology departments. Oral presentation to the 22nd Biennial Conference on Chemistry Education, State College, PA, 7/29/2012
S Cessna, T Flanagan, D Graber Neufeld, SJ Horst, T Kishbaugh, L Leaman, M Siderhurst. Promoting Learning through Authentic and Relevant Research Experiences in Environmental Monitoring and Remediation across Ten Chemistry and Biology Courses. Poster Presentation: Biennial meeting of the NSF-CCLI Primary Investigators, February, 2011.
(2020/21)
(2020/21)
(2020/21)
