Bill Walker
Associate Director of Programs and Partnerships, CATALYST
Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM (CATALYST)
STEM Education, Mathematics Education,
Curriculum and Instruction
Email:
wswalker@purdue.edu
Phone:
765-496-1525
Address:
Steven C. Beering Hall of
Liberal Arts and Education
100 N. University Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2098
BRNG 3288B
Links:
LinkedInAbout
Dr. Bill Walker is the Associate Director of Programs and Partnerships for the Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM at Purdue University. His work focuses on the use of K-12 research-based practices in integrated STEM or in mathematics. He is an instructor for the K-12 Integrated STEM Education Graduate Certificate and organizes the annual Indiana STEM Education Conference.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education. Purdue University, West Lafayette
- Master of Science in Mathematics Education. Purdue University, West Lafayette
- Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Purdue University, West Lafayette
Career Experience
- Associate Director of Programs and Partnerships. Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM (CATALYST), College of Education, Purdue University. 2025-present.
- Assistant Director of Programs and Partnerships. CATALYST, College of Education, Purdue University. 2019-2024.
- Associate Director, Indiana GEAR UP. College of Education, Purdue University. 2016-2019.
- Research Assistant Professor. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, Purdue University. 2016-2019.
- Director, Purdue Science K-12 Outreach. College of Science, Purdue University. 2004-2016.
- Executive Director, Indiana – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Resource Network. Office of Engagement, Purdue University. 2007-2012.
Professional Affiliations/Memberships
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Research & Publications
Dr. Walker’s research includes analyzing the impact of integrated STEM or mathematics curricular materials on student learning, understanding practices that support interdisciplinary educational research teams, and identifying factors that contribute to enacted instructional practices by STEM or mathematics teachers while participating in professional development.
Selected Publications
- Seng, S. & Walker, W. S., III. (2025). Developing qualitative methods for detecting evidence of design fixation during engineering design challenge activities for pre-college students. Proceedings of the 2025 ASEE Annual Conference. Montreal, Quebec.
- Walker, W. S., III., Bryan, L. A., & Guzey, S. S. (2025). Proceedings of the tenth annual Indiana STEM Education Conference: Generational advances through STEM education. Purdue University: Purdue e-Pubs. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/instemed/2025/
- Walker, W. S., III., Feikes, D., McGathey, N., & Oppland-Cordell, S. (2024). The teaching and learning of algebra: Six elements that build algebraic fluency from conceptual understandings. In K. W. Kosko, J. Caniglia, M. Zolfaghari, & G. A. Morris (Eds.), Proceedings of the 46th annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 200-205). Kent State University. Cleveland, OH.
- Suazo-Flores, E., Walker, W. S., III., Kastberg, S. E., Aqazade, M., & Alyami, H. (2024). Mathematics education researchers’ practices in interdisciplinary collaborations: Embracing different ways of knowing. Mathematics Education Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-024-00489-x
- McGathey, N., Feikes, D., Walker, W. S., III., & Kafle, B. (2023). Units, declaring variables and the nature of algebra. MathAMATYC Educator, 14(3), 42-47. https://amatyc.org/page/EducatorSpring2023
Courses Typically Taught
- EDCI 53900, Introduction to K-12 Integrated STEM Education
- EDCI 55950, Engineering and Technology Design Practicum