Jennifer Love

Jennifer Love
(she/her/hers)

Associate Teaching Professor
Associate Director, Center for STEM Education
354 Snell Engineering Center
360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
Tel: (617) 373 - 3551
j.love@northeastern.edu

Education

• EdD (2022) Northeastern University
• MS (1997) Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa
• BS (1993) Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Background/Biography

Originally from Kent, CT, I have been teaching full-time at Northeastern University since 2006. Before that, I worked 8 years as a biomechanics engineer/athletic footwear designer for Reebok International and 2 years as a research/development engineer for Haemonetics Corporation. I currently teach GE4900 Career Management after most recently teaching GE 1501 Cornerstone 1, GE 1502 Cornerstone 2, GE 1110 Engineering Design and GE 1111 Engineering Problem Solving and Computation for the past 10 years. I am the current faculty advisor for the student organization COExist. I have also taught ME 2355 Mechanics of Materials in the Department of Mechanical/Industrial Engineering and I have taught courses in the School of Engineering Technology & the Lowell Institute, including several Renewable Energy courses involving solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind turbine, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal and ocean/wave energy systems. I was the inaugural Faculty Advisor for the Sustainable Energy Systems minor.

My research endeavors originated at The University of Iowa with a project studying ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries in female Division I collegiate athletes and neuromuscular responses measured by EMG (electromyography) in order to prevent non-contact ACL injuries through neuromuscular training. At Reebok, my work focused on footwear biomechanics research, footwear technology design & development and testing of advanced concepts in athletic footwear and sporting goods.

My current research involves engineering education, especially STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) education in grades PreK-12. My dissertation is titled “Aligning to the 2016 Massachusetts Science, Technology & Engineering Curriculum Framework: STEAM PreK-12 Teacher Professional Development where Engineering & Makerspaces are the Keystone.

As an avid soccer player and youth coach, I also enjoy running, golf, hiking, kayaking and exploring math, science and engineering concepts with my family outdoors within the greater Boston area.

Professional Activities

• American Society for Engineering Education

Awards

• Outstanding Teacher of First Year Engineering – May 2018, awarded at COE Awards Banquet
• The Effective or Innovative Use of Technology in Teaching Award – Course Enhancement. Awarded by Northeastern University's EdTech Center, Spring 2006.
• Ocif*, J., Sabick, M., "A shoe-mounted ultrasonic 3D motion tracking system for training and competition," U.S. Olympic Committee, Sports Science & Technology Division, Colorado Springs. Winner – Engineering Design Contest 1996.

Publications

• Love, J.O., Duggan, C.J., Blume, E.. (2024). "stEm PEER Academy: The Power of Human Capital. 2024 Proceedings of Annual ASEE CoNECD Conference", February 25 – 27, 2024. Crystal City, VA. Paper ID# 40759.
• Love, J.O., Duggan, C.J., Xavier, J., Slater, A., & Rath, K. (2023). “Engineering PLUS Alliance stEm PEER Academy for Faculty and Administrators: Transforming the National Engineering Education Landscape for Women and BIPOC Students”, 2023 Proceedings of Annual ASEE National Conference, June 25 – 28, 2023. Baltimore, MD. Paper ID# 38484.
• Zeid, I.F., Love, J.O., & Duggan, C. (2023). “Lessons Learned from the First Offering of REU PATHWAYS Summer Research Program for Community College Students”, 2023 Proceedings of Annual ASEE National Conference, June 25 – 28, 2023. Baltimore, MD. Paper ID# 42580.
• Love, J.O., Duggan, C.J., Isaacs, J.A., Parker, J.M., & Norris, K.M. (2023). “stEm PEER Academy: Building a Community of Practice”, 2023 Proceedings of Annual ASEE CoNECD Conference, February 26 – 28, 2023. New Orleans, LA. Paper ID# 36437
• Love, J. O. (2022). Aligning to the 2016 Massachusetts Science, Technology & Engineering Curriculum Frameworks: Prek-5 STEAM Education Where Engineering Is the “Keystone”. Available from Dissertations & Theses @ Northeastern University; ProQuest One Academic. (2659594263).
• Duggan, C., Love, J.O., Fuchs, N.L., Chernich, E. and Fung, B. (2020) An Effective Model for Leveraging Field Trips to Broaden Participation in STEM. 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference & Exposition, June 22-26, 2020. Paper ID#29190
• Whalen, R., Freeman, S.F., Love, J.O., Grahame, K.S., Hertz, J.L. (2018) Evolution to Cornerstone: Creating a First-Year Culture with a Multifaceted Approach. 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Salt Lake City, UT. June 24-27. Paper ID#22932
• Love, J., Duggan, C., and Martin, E. (2018) STEAM Go! A School District’s Approach to Implementing New State Science, Technology & Engineering PreK - 12 Curriculum Standards 2018 ASEE Northeast Section Conference, Hartford, CT
• Freeman, S.F., Pfluger, C., Whalen, R., Grahame, K.S., Hertz, J.L., Variawa, C., Love, J.O., Sivak, M.L., and Maheswaran, B. (2016) Cranking Up Cornerstone: Lessons Learned from Implementing a Pilot with First-Year Engineering Students. 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, LA, ISBN 978-0-692-68565-5
• Love, J.O., Freeman, S.F., Jaeger-Helton, B.K., and Whalen, R. (2015) No lab? No shop? No problem: Intentional design of a First Year Engineering Learning Center with enlightening outcomes. American Society for Engineering Education Conference Proceedings, Seattle, WA, Paper ID#13479.
• Love, J. O. and Freeman S. F. (2014). "What Sticks with First Year Engineering Students and Engineering Faculty in STEM Education Service-Learning Projects?", Proceedings of American Society for Engineering Annual Conference and Exposition.
• Jennifer Ocif* (quoted in book on p.30) (2009). Engineers Make a Difference: Motivating Students to Pursue an Engineering Education, Baine, C. (ed.), Engineering Education Service Center, Springfield, OR, ISBN 978-0981930008.
• Hansberry, E. and Love, J. (2007). "The Multidisciplinary Environment of Engineering Design Graphics", Proceedings of American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition.
• Cappaert, J., Ocif*, J., and Rich, B. (2005). "Inter & Intra-Subject Classifications of Outsole Wear in Running Shoes", Reebok International, International Society of Biomechanics Footwear Symposium Proceedings.
• Ocif*, J., Cappaert, J., and Rich, R., (2004). "A method for using an ultrasonic thickness gauge to assess outsole wear in running shoe". Northeast Bioengineering IEEE Conference Proceedings.
• Jennifer Ocif* (featured in chapter on pp. 10, 11, and 67) (2004). High Tech Hot Shots: Careers in Sports Engineering, Baine, C. (ed.), National Society of Professional Engineers, Alexandria, Virginia, ISBN 978-0915409235.
• Ocif*, J., Gardner, C., Albright, J., and Pope, M. (2000). "A Method for Analyzing Standing and Reactive Balance and Neuromuscular Responses of the Spine and Lower Extremities (Chapter 15)" Proprioception and Neuromuscular Control in Joint Stability, Lephart, S.M. and Fu, F.H. (ed.), Human Kinetics, Champaign, Illinois, ISBN 978-0880118644.

* maiden name