Associate Professor, Science Education & Bitove Family Faculty Fellow

Associate Director, Graduate Education Program


Dr. Debbie French is Associate Professor of Science Education, Bitove Family Faculty Fellow, and Associate Director of the Graduate Education Program in the Department of Education at Wake Forest University. She is a former high school physics, physical science, and engineering teacher. She teaches secondary and elementary science education methods, an instructional design, assessment, and pedagogy course, as well as action research courses. Dr. French’s research interests include, physics and astronomy education research, climate change education, preservice and in-service science teacher preparation and professional development, and exploring best practices for incorporating authentic scientific inquiry in secondary science classrooms. She is a former chair of the Physics Teacher Preparation Committee for the American Association of Physics Teachers. From 2010-2022, Dr. French served as the co-PI on a National Science Foundation Grant entitled, “The STEM Guitar Project.” This grant provided funding to teach K-16 teachers how to build electric and acoustic guitars and how to use the guitar as an engaging vehicle to teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Dr. French also serves on the Editorial Review Board for CITE-Science and ASTE Innovations.