Biography
Dr. Jessica Rush Leeker is an accomplished educator and researcher with extensive experience in applied analytics, engineering education, and social impact within STEM. Currently, she is transitioning to the Cornell ORIE department after serving as the Director of Undergraduate Education at CU Boulder, where she led initiatives to enhance curriculum, foster diversity, and support students through industry-aligned programs. Dr. Rush Leeker has secured over $4 million in NSF funding for her projects, including the “Roots and Wings” and “Building a Legacy in Engineering” grants, which focus on developing pathways in STEM. Her partnerships with non-profit organizations underscore her commitment to community-centered, impactful research. Dr. Rush Leeker brings a collaborative, data-driven approach to education and a passion for bridging industry and academia to ORIE.
Research Interests
Dr. Rush Leeker’s research is driven by her commitment to integrating data science and applied analytics into socially impactful projects, with an emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity. Her interests include:
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Leveraging predictive modeling, analytics, and machine learning to solve real-world problems in education and social dilemmas.
STEM Accessibility: Developing tools and frameworks to broaden participation in STEM fields.
Engineering Education: Exploring innovative teaching methods, such as project-based learning and community-engaged approaches, to enhance student engagement and retention.
Teaching Interests
Dr. Rush Leeker is passionate about teaching in areas that combine technical expertise with social impact. Her teaching interests include:
- Applied Analytics
- Applied Data Science
- Operations Research and Decision-Making Frameworks
- Supply Chain
- Engineering Education
Select Publications
-
2024 Leeker, J.R., Thibeault, K., Bozic, C., Ruane, L., “Beliefs of Students and Alumni Concerning Curricular Needs of the Engineering Management Minor,” American Society of Engineering Management Journal.
-
2024 Leeker, J.R., Ruane, L., Sanders, H., MacDonald, L.,” Using PALAR to formalize informal education,” Research in Engineering Education Symposium, Hubli, India, January.
-
2023 Leeker, J.R., Ruane, L., “The effect of student mentor relationships in afterschool elementary robotics programs,” Frontiers in Education, College Station, Texas, USA, October.
-
2018 Ehsan, H., Leeker, J.R., Cardella, M., and Svarosky, G., “Examining Children’s Engineering Practices during an Engineering Activity in a Designed Learning Setting: AFocus on Troubleshooting.” Proceedings of the American Society of Engineering Education Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah. June.
-
2018 Leeker, JR, & Pilotte, M., “Industry Investment in Informal Outreach Programs:Determinants of Effectiveness through Evaluation.” Proceedings of the American Society of Engineering Education Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah. June.
Select Awards and Honors
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Grant
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) Grant
- Fulbright Scholar Award, Universidade Federal da Bahia
Education
- Ph.D. in Engineering Education, Specializing in Industrial Engineering , Purdue University
- MBA specializing in Sustainable Operations, Purdue University
- Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain and Information Systems, Pennsylvania State University