Ann Chester, PhD
Primary Institution:
Robert C. Byrd Health Science CenterDepartment:
Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA)Position(s):
Founder and Director of (HSTA)Current SEPA Project
1R25OD023768-01 : 09/06/2017 - 07/31/2022
Ann Chester, Ph.D. is the founder and director of Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) a campus/community partnership program initiated in 1994 which reaches out to 9th-12th grade under-represented students across West Virginia and supports them towards college and professional school. The program brings under-represented students and their teachers to multiple university campuses during summers for laboratory and classroom training and enrichment activities, and then provides the infrastructure and support for community-based science club projects mentored by teachers, scientists, health professions students and volunteer community leaders during the school year. A distinctive piece of HSTA is its students’ development of research projects that examine and address health issues faced by their communities. These projects form the core of the HSTA experience and drive the academic learning the program promotes. The projects turn HSTA students into community advocates who address health and social issues at home even as they prepare to move on to college and beyond. In addition, Chester leads the WV National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health and the WV Health Careers Opportunity Program. For hobbies, she snow boards, golfs, bikes, runs half marathons and visits her 3 grandchildren with her husband.
Associated SEPA Project(s)
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HSTA Citizen Science: Adolescents Engaged in Citizen Science with Early Childcare Facilities to Address Childhood Obesity
1R25OD023768-01 : 09/06/2017 - 07/31/2022 -
Teaching to Learn: WV-HSTA Students Take CBPR to Their Community
R25OD010495-01 : 06/01/2012 - 02/28/2017 -
West Virginia Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) Student Design Public Health Clinical Trials
R25RR023274 : 09/29/2006 - 06/30/2011 -
Health Sciences & Technology Academy (HSTA) Model of Science Education — Phase II
R25RR012329 : 08/15/1997 - 08/31/2006
Associated SEPA Publication(s)
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Taking a Look at the Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA): Student-Research Partnership Increases Survey Size, Hands-on STEM learning, and Research-Community Connections
Journal of STEM Outreach
Siciliano P, Hornbeck B, Hanks S, Kuhn S, Zbehlik A, Chester A. -
Social Media–Based STEM Enrichment Curriculum Positively Impacts Rural Adolescent Health Measures
Journal of STEM Outreach
Chester A, Hanks S, Kuhn S, Jones F, White T, Harris M, Hornbeck B, McKendall S, McMillion M, Morton C, Slusser M, Saunder R.