Suzanne Kern is a dedicated teacher, mentor, and scientist, with a longstanding interest in undergraduate science education. Prior to joining Minerva, she taught Biology at the Claremont Colleges. Kern earned her Ph.D. at MIT using interdisciplinary approaches to study bacterial metabolism, with implications for clinical medicine and bio-energy. For more than a decade Professor Kern has supported students’ academic and personal development through teaching and mentoring roles at the Claremont Colleges, Caltech, MIT, and Colorado College.
Professor Kern believes that learning to solve meaningful problems is best accomplished by combining rigorous thinking with mastery of fundamental concepts. Her love of both science and learning is reflected in the classroom environment she fosters, where students practice new skills through discovery, collaboration, and reflection, building upon their collective experiences and individual identities.