Contact Info

Nathan Mentzer is a professor in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute with a joint appointment in the College of Education at Purdue University. He prepares Engineering/Technology candidates for teacher licensure. Dr. Mentzer’s educational efforts in pedagogical content knowledge are guided by a research theme centered in student learning of engineering design thinking on the secondary level. Nathan was a former middle and high school technology educator in Montana prior to pursuing a doctoral degree. He was a National Center for Engineering and Technology Education (NCETE) Fellow at Utah State University while pursuing a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. After graduation he completed a one year appointment with the Center as a postdoctoral researcher.

Dr. Mentzer is active in graduate education and advises master's and PhD students interested in research in the areas of: Technology and Engineering Education, Design Thinking Education, and Integrated/Integrative STEM Education.