Ennis Rios started this summer as the program coordinator for the REC.
A Kansas City native, he served in the US Navy for 15 years as an Information Systems Technician specializing in shipboard radio and data communications for the first half of his career before moving into the Naval Special Warfare community, where he specialized in mobile communications. Upon leaving the Navy in 2015, he attended Texas A&M University, earning his undergraduate degree in Geographic Information Science and Technology and a Master’s in Water Management and Hydrological Science.
In this new role with the REC, he is excited to leverage his academic and professional background to disseminate scientific knowledge and inspire the next generation of scientists in communities across Kansas.
Marzieh Ebrahimi is a skilled research assistant at Kansas State University, pursuing her PhD program in Curriculum and Instruction, with her main research focus on implementing technology in education. She is mainly involved in doing some research related to VR/AR and their adoption in education system. With her vast experience in this field, she has developed a deep understanding of how technology can be used to improve learning outcomes for students and educators alike. Currently, in collaboration with Rural Education Center, she is working on LEAPES and SPECA Projects.
Marzieh has a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and two Master’s degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language (TEFL) from Azad university, and Teaching Persian to non-Persian Speakers from Ferdowsi University in Iran, which has equipped her with the theoretical and practical knowledge to work in this field.
Marzieh is an excellent team player and has collaborated with other researchers to publish research papers and present at national and international conferences. Her dedication to her work has earned her recognition in the academic community. With her passion for education and technology, Marzieh is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of students and teachers through her research.
Marzieh Ebrahimi undertakes an important responsibility as a co-president within EGSO (Education Graduate Student Organization), actively participating in the joint leadership and guidance of the organization. Additionally, she facilitates various projects aimed at augmenting the academic and professional development of its members.
As a graduate assistant, Marzieh will provide assistance for various REC projects.
Nooshin Darvishinia is a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at Kansas State University, focusing on the dynamic intersection of technology and education. She also focuses on equity in educational contexts. A winner of a literary contest, Nooshin is deeply interested in the role of storytelling in both teaching and learning. This interest has informed her 12-year career as an English Language instructor. As a Graduate Research Assistant at the Rural Education Center (REC), she has been working on LEAPES and SOARING projects, aiming at advancing education through innovative applications of technology in rural contexts. Nooshin holds a master’s degree in teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), and a bachelor’s degree in English Literature.
In addition to co-authoring a book chapter, she has served as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. Nooshin has also presented her work at numerous national and international conferences. Notably, she spoke at the International Conference on Educational Sciences, Psychology & Humanities in Belgium and the National Conference on Language, Literature, and Translation in Education at Maybod University. In March 2023, she presented her research on Teachers’ Instructional Approaches Toward Telepresence Robots in Education at the Critical Questions in Education Conference in San Diego, California. Her recent publications include a paper on Artificial Intelligence in education.
In her other role as the Vice President of the Education Graduate Student Organization (EGSO), Nooshin is committed to fostering a vibrant and supportive community for graduate students in the field of education.
As a part of the REC, she is involved in various projects, including overseeing the REC’s social media.
Dillon Simmons specializes in online learning experiences and related educational technologies. As a research coordinator for the Rural Education Center, Dillon leverages several years of Secondary and Collegiate teaching experience to empower teachers in rural schools with resources and training they can use to provide new quality STEM learning experiences to their students.
Dr. Simmons’s doctorate focused on expanding quality online learning opportunities to support more diverse learning styles. His master’s emphasized reinforcing culturally relevant and responsive content to build literacy skills. At the REC, he is Research Coordinator and an in-house STEM expert.
Hector Ramos is our undergraduate student-worker, who usually can be found in the REC office, BH 244, keeping us all organized. He began working in the REC office at the beginning of the fall semester.
Hector, originally from Garden City, is a second semester Mechanical Engineering student and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. While in the Marines, he was an Aviation Mechanic and Quality Assurance Technician.