Cissy J. Ballen headshot
Cissy J. Ballen
Department of Biological Sciences
Associate Professor


Office: 348 Funchess Hall

Address: 101 Life Sciences Bldg.
Auburn University, AL 36849

Fax: (334) 844-1645

Email: mjb0100@auburn.edu


Education
Postdoctoral Associate - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN
2018
Postdoctoral Associate - Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
2016
Ph.D. - University of Sydney, Australia
2014
B.Sc. - University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN
2008


Research and Teaching Interests

Research in the Ballen Lab examines how higher education influences student learning and success. We investigate factors that contribute to differences in science literacy and evaluate how instructional design can reduce educational barriers. Through an integrated experimental and theoretical research program, we study how classroom and social contexts shape learning, professional development and academic trajectories.


Selected Publications

  1. Ballen, C.J., S.M. Aguillon, R. Brunelli, A.G.Drake, D. Wassenburg, S.L. Weiss, K.R. Zamudio, S. Cotner.  2018. Do small classes reduce performance gaps in STEM? Bioscience. (in press).

  2. Ballen, C.J., K.R. Zamudio. 2018. Active learning reduces misconceptions about evolution and promotes inclusivity in large classrooms. In Golding, J., K. Kern, and C. Rawn (Eds.), Strategies for Teaching Large Classes Effectively in Higher Education. Cognella Publishing.

  3. Ballen, C.J., S.T. Thompson, J.E. Blum, N.P. Newstrom, S. Cotner. 2018. Discovery and broad relevance may be insignificant components of course-based undergraduate research experiences for non-biology majors. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 19:1-9.

  4. Sullivan, L.L.*, J. Ballen*, S. Cotner. 2018. Small group gender ratios in active learning courses impact performance and peer evaluations. PLoS One. 13:e0195129.*Authors contributed equally to this work

  5. Ballen, C.J., H. W. Greene. 2017. Walking and talking the tree of life: Why and how to teach about biodiversity. PLoS Biology. 15:e2001630. 

  6. Ballen, C.J., C. Wieman, S. Salehi, J. Searle, K.R. Zamudio. 2017. Enhancing diversity in undergraduate science: Self-efficacy drives performance gains with active learning. CBE-Life Sciences Education. 16:ar56.​

  7. Ballen, C.J., N.A. Mason. 2017. Longitudinal analysis of a diversity support program in biology: a national call for further assessment. Bioscience 67:367-373.

  8. Cotner, S., J. Ballen. 2017. Can mixed assessment methods make biology classes more equitable? PLoS One. 12:e0189610.

  9. Ballen, C.J., J. Blum, S. Brownell, S. Hebert, J. Hewlett, J. Klein, E. McDonald, D. Monti, S. Nold, K. Slemmons, P. Soneral, S. Cotner. 2017. A call to develop course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) for nonmajor courses. CBE-Life Sciences Education. 16:mr2.

  10. Cotner, S., J. Ballen, C.D. Brooks, R. Moore. 2011. Instructor gender and student confidence in the sciences: a need for more role models? Journal of College Science Teaching. 40:96-101.

Google Scholar Page


Courses
Undergraduate Graduate
Organismal Biology – BIOL1030






Last updated: 10/10/2025