Mahsa Kazempour

Dr. Mahsa Kazempour is an associate professor of science education at Penn State Berks and chair of the Sustainability Council. She is responsible for teaching science and science education courses including Science Methods for Elementary Education majors and Environmental Science.

In her role as Sustainability Council Chair, Dr. Kazempour leads sustainability efforts on campus, directing campus-wide initiatives such as the campus garden project and composting and planning educational events including film screenings, speakers and panel discussions, and sustainable self-care and Earth Day festivals. Her passion is leading change, locally and globally, with the goal of achieving sustainability and social/environmental/economic justice and equity through education, awareness, active engagement, service, and collaboration. Learn more about sustainability at Penn State Berks »

Dr. Kazempour's research focuses on the professional development of both prospective and in-service teachers and ways to improve K-16 science instruction. Her research aims to explore prospective elementary teachers' beliefs, attitudes, and self-efficacy with regard to science and science teaching, and changes in these constructs and participants’ teaching practices as a result of enrolling a science methods course or participating in professional development sessions. Her other line of research focuses on undergraduate students’ level of environmental literacy and sense of social responsibility with respect to the environment and changes in these constructs as a result of enrolling in a service-learning focused environmental science course. Her environmental science students engage in the Environmental Awareness & Community Action Project (EACAP), which allows them to partner with local organizations in taking action to protect the environment. Learn more about the project and see samples of students' projects online »

Dr. Kazempour received the 2025 President’s Award for Engagement with Students. In the 2024-25 academic year, she received the college's Outstanding Teaching Award as well as the Community Engagement in the Greater Berks Award. She was selected as the 2022-24 Penn State Engagement Academy Scholar and awarded $82,000 for her EACAP: Partnership for Student & Community Engagement scholarly project. She was also selected as a 2023 Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium (PERC) Campus Sustainability Champion because of her commitment to sustainability literacy, community outreach and engagement, and the way she brings a deep love of learning to everything she engages in. She has also received the 2022-23 Penn State Berks Outstanding Community Engagement award, 2017 Outstanding Service award, and 2017 MLK Jr. award.