Suzanne Poole Patzelt, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Alternative Programs and University Partnerships at Touro University. She completed her doctoral studies at Montclair State University in Teacher Education and Teacher Development. Her research centers around Research Experiences for Teachers (RETs),  science teachers' conceptions of the nature of science, science teacher identities, and sustainable and equitable approaches for recruiting and retaining science teachers. She worked on the NSF-funded IMPREST grant aimed at identifying successful practices in supporting and retaining science teachers. Prior to completing her work in higher education, she was a science teacher in the city of Newark, NJ, teaching a variety of science courses for diverse learning needs, from self-contained chemistry to AP environmental science. She holds a Bachelor of science in biology and a minor in chemistry and participated in research in various fields of science, such as environmental engineering. She is equally passionate about science and education as well as working to make both fields more equitable and justice centered.