Division of Natural, Physical, and Computer Sciences

Stephen Schuh has been with the Academy since the 2000-2001 school year, and has been selected for local and regional meritorious teaching awards over 20 times. He is a consultant for the College Board and has facilitated 60+ summer workshops for national and international AP Physics instructors. Mr. Schuh has taught for Ball State University, Indiana University, and Purdue University, and has extended experience with 600-level courses in Physics, Mathematics, Biophysics, Education, and Psychology. Having logged over 3000 hours of studio time, Mr Schuh has taught students across the state, country, and beyond. In 2012, he was one of 12 consultants across the globe invited to participate in the first year of the College Board’s new Physics curriculum, and has taught all levels of physics, research, and colloquium for the Indiana Academy.

Chris Buczek joined the Academy in the fall of 2018 teaching General Chemistry and AP Chemistry. Her philosophy on education is that it is not a spectator sport; students must be engaged in what they are learning and be provided with opportunities to apply what they have learned in novel situations. She has over twenty years of teaching experience and continues to seek better and more engaging methods to the classroom. Chris received her Master’s in Science Education from Indiana Wesleyan and has begun work on her Master’s in Chemistry where she will continue her focus on Chemistry Education. She holds a BA from Indiana University in Sociology with a concentration in Psychology and a BS from Trine University in Chemistry Education and a concentration in Mathematics.

Justin Crowder joined the Academy in 2024 teaching AP Biology, Introduction to Microbiology, and Genetics. Mr. Crowder grew up in Muncie and has studied at Ball State and Indiana University. He has served as an instructor for multiple life science and physical science courses at both the high school and university levels and has conducted biomedical research in various academic laboratories.

Mr. Crowder’s graduate thesis project investigated the protein quality control mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum localized ubiquitin ligase enzymes in genetically modified yeast. He then spent eight years researching the cellular process of diabetes pathogenesis in various tissues of genetically modified mice and immortalized cell lines. Mr. Crowder has published articles in scientific journals including the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Diabetologia.

Mr. Crowder lives in Muncie with his wife, daughter, two cats, and bearded dragon. In his free time he enjoys hiking, gaming, attending concerts, and exploring new culinary delights.

Ms. Cunningham was appointed Instructor of Computer Science in 1996 at the Indiana Academy. Currently, she teaches AP Computer Science A/Java, Introduction to Programming/C++, Visual Programming/Python, Virtual Reality, Web Page Design and Personal Finance. Since the summer of 1997, Ms. Cunningham has also taught summer workshops for teachers and elementary through high school students. During the school year, she is also active in presenting computer technology Saturday programs for elementary through high school students. She is an AP Computer Science A Consultant for the College Board and AP Reader for AP Computer Science A tests.

Before coming to the Indiana Academy, she was Departmental Manager for various computer departments at Ontario Systems Corp. in Muncie, Indiana. She has experience as a Software Project Manager/Systems Analyst at Conseco, Inc. (Carmel, IN) and started as a Programmer Analyst at Ball Corporation in Muncie, Indiana. While attending Ball State University as an undergraduate, she was a programmer consultant for the Charles A. Beard School Corporation in Knightstown, Indiana and was instrumental in setting up their first computer labs. She has also taught night classes at Indiana Wesleyan University, Indianapolis, IN. Currently, she is an independent contractor for various programming projects.

Ms. Cunningham is a former member and officer (serving 3 terms) on the Board of Directors for Heritage Place in Indianapolis, Indiana, former member of the Indianapolis Computer Society, former member of the Network of Business Women in Indianapolis, former member of Toastmasters, former member of Sigma Iota Epsilon (Ball State) and has served on the YMCA Programs and Activities Committee, Muncie, IN. In 1989, she was in the Who’s Who Among Women Executives.

Susie Cunningham News

• Academy Faculty Recognized by Alumni’s Colleges
• Ms. Susie Cunningham, Students Receive Awards from NCWIT
• PhyxtGears Robotics Team Wins Bloomington Regional Competition
• Satellite Designed by Indiana Academy Students Set to Launch Aboard a NASA Rocket
• HOSA Leadership Conference

Dr. Hook teaches General Physics, AP Physics 1, Solar System Astronomy, and Galactic Astronomy classes at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. She received her B.S. degree in 2010 from Ball State University in Physics with minors in Astronomy and Geology. She completed her M.S. degree, also at Ball State University, in 2017 in Physics with a concentration in Astrophysics. Her master’s thesis focused on the use of an Echelle spectrograph, describing and conducting data analysis on the accretion disc of the binary star system X Persei. Prior to arriving at the Indiana Academy in the Fall of 2022, she taught physics classes at Ball State University and Purdue University in the capacity of a teaching assistant for almost all of the years she was a graduate student at those universities.

Recently, in the summer of 2023, she completed her Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Physics Education from Purdue University. Her dissertation concerned the post-secondary realm of educators and their beliefs about teaching problem-solving which revealed a caring and student-centered perception of education.

Dr. Hook has been published several times throughout her career thus far, aside from her thesis and dissertation, including in journals such as Planetary and Space Science Journal, the Journal of the Southern Association for Research in Astronomy, and paper sessions of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). She has also attended and presented at several conferences. She has presented research at the 39th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in 2007 and participated in poster sessions of her research at the American Astronomical Society (AAS): Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting in 2008 and the American Astronomical Society / American Association of Physics Teachers Joint Meeting in 2006. She also regularly attends the Hoosier Association for Science Teachers Conference.

In her free time, Dr. Hook enjoys spending time with her husband, fur-children (4 dogs and 1 cat), and her mom who now lives with her due to health. She enjoys reading/watching mystery, science fiction, and fantasy genre content and hopes to someday contribute to the art with her own books someday. She also likes to paint, solve mystery case games (such as her Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective – The Thames Murders & Other Cases Board Game), and game on her play station (her favorite being the entire Assassin’s Creed Series, first to latest).

Mr. Mayfield teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Introduction to Microbiology, Introduction to Zoology, Botany, Humanity/Biotechnology, and Social Issues and Research. Additionally, he serves as the sponsor of the Environmental Club, Speech and Debate Team, and Envirothon Team. Mr. Mayfield is an evolutionary biologist who is doing his dissertation research on evolutionary relationships in orchids. He has published articles in the fields of systematic botany and entomology.

Michael Mayfield News

• Science Olympiad Team Advances to State
• Academy Instructor of Life Sciences Receives Prestigious Award
• Envirothon Teams Travel to Purdue
• HOSA Leadership Conference
• Indiana Academy Instructors Awarded Robert P. Bell Education Grants

Dr. Godfrey Walwema is thrilled to join The Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities as a Physics Instructor. Godfrey has taught physics for over 15 years at the International Baccalaureate and Advanced levels as well as high school. Prior to joining Ball State University, Godfrey taught physical science to preservice teachers at the University of Wyoming. He has also taught physics in Uganda, Kenya, Eswatini, and Botswana.

Godfrey believes that students should find the learning of physics interesting and exciting because the application of physics principles is evident all around them in real-life situations. He contends that naturally, students are likely to be interested in exploring and learning about what happens around them. For instance, they would want to know how the microwave oven functions, the principle behind the GPS, the most efficient way to conserve energy, and the technology involved in computers and cellphones. To this end, Godfrey’s research interest is to investigate teaching strategies that would make the learning of physics interesting and exciting to students.

Godfrey earned a B.S. in physics and mathematics from Makerere University, an M.S. in Physics from Western Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Science Education from The University of Wyoming. In his spare time, he reads about the latest innovations in the field of science and technology.

Dr. Godfrey Walwema News

• Dr. Godfrey Walwema Joins Academy as Physics Instructor

Donald Winslow grew up in Indianapolis and studied at Indiana University and Michigan State. His dissertation project addressed the effects of forest management practices on breeding birds in southern Indiana. He has also studied birds in the field in Michigan, Saskatchewan, California, Wyoming, and Oklahoma. Dr. Winslow has taught biology and environmental science at Indiana University, Michigan State University, St. Gregory’s University and Rose State College in Oklahoma, Ivy Tech, and the Indiana Academy. He lives with his wife, two sons, and three cats in Hagerstown.