Guillermo Ibarrola Recalde, 37
PhD STEM education ’20
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT AND EVALUATOR IN EDTECH AND HIGHER ED
Guillermo Ibarrola Recalde, 37
PhD STEM education ’20
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT AND EVALUATOR IN EDTECH AND HIGHER ED
Working at the intersection of ed-tech and higher education, Guillermo Ibarrola Recalde helps redesign STEM pathways so underserved students aren’t left behind.
Guillermo Ibarrola Recalde is on a mission to dismantle the barriers that prevent students from thriving in STEM fields — particularly those learners who have been historically and systematically excluded. After years of leading high-impact educational equity research at Digital Promise in Washington, D.C., he has launched a consultancy to help ed-tech companies and higher education institutions bridge the gap between student potential and academic preparation. His work provides ed-tech companies and universities with a roadmap and resources to support learners who, often due to their ZIP codes, haven’t had the same access to foundational STEM resources. He works, for example, to help schools create more-accessible introductory courses, “and also to create assessments that measure where the students are, along with recommendations for prerequisite or corequisite courses that would allow students to succeed,” he says. His Drexel experience prepared him for this work, especially the guidance he got from mentors like Associate Professor Daniel King, former Associate Professor Toni May (Sondergeld), and former School of Education Dean Nancy Songer. “I started my PhD in the College of Arts and Sciences, in the Department of Chemistry, but ended up finishing in STEM education, in the School of Education. I got to work with amazing researchers, both in the chemistry side and also at the School of Education side,” he recalls. He learned about curriculum, how to do assessments, evaluations and program implementation in academia, and working alongside skilled researchers helped him access a whole field of practice that he hadn’t even been aware of before coming to Drexel.
“My mentors really helped me to push the boundaries of what I thought research could do, and how it can help students, universities and the ed-tech field.”
My Greatest Accomplishment:
My greatest accomplishment has been leading various multi-million-dollar, multi-institutional grants and initiatives centered on the intersection of technology, STEM, higher education and student success. Through these efforts, we brought together diverse stakeholders to design and implement innovative, scalable solutions that expanded access and improved outcomes for historically and systemic excluded learners. These projects not only secured significant funding for the cause but also strengthened cross-institutional collaboration and long-term capacity building. Most importantly, they created measurable, lasting impact for the students and communities we serve.
How Drexel Shaped My Path:
Completing my PhD at Drexel had a profound impact on both my professional and personal growth. Beginning my studies in the Chemistry Department and finishing in the School of Education gave me a unique interdisciplinary perspective, showing me how STEM, education and technology can work together to improve student lives. The hands-on research assistantships I undertook during my studies helped me realize and understand the realities of leading and implementing research, including its challenges and rewards. Working alongside world-class scholars further refined my skills and shaped me into a more thoughtful and effective researcher and person.
Where I Hope To Be in Five Years:
Over the next five years, I aspire to lead transformative efforts that expand and strengthen the global STEM pipeline while broadening access to high-quality learning opportunities for diverse learners. I plan to collaborate with districts, universities and organizations to confront retention and attrition challenges using data-driven, student-centered strategies. I envision overseeing major grants, mentoring interdisciplinary teams and driving the development and continuous improvement of innovative educational solutions. Most importantly, I hope to apply my experience in ed-tech and AI startups to close background knowledge gaps and create pathways that enable every learner to succeed. DM
My Greatest Accomplishment:
My greatest accomplishment has been leading various multi-million-dollar, multi-institutional grants and initiatives centered on the intersection of technology, STEM, higher education and student success. Through these efforts, we brought together diverse stakeholders to design and implement innovative, scalable solutions that expanded access and improved outcomes for historically and systemic excluded learners. These projects not only secured significant funding for the cause but also strengthened cross-institutional collaboration and long-term capacity building. Most importantly, they created measurable, lasting impact for the students and communities we serve.
How Drexel Shaped My Path:
Completing my PhD at Drexel had a profound impact on both my professional and personal growth. Beginning my studies in the Chemistry Department and finishing in the School of Education gave me a unique interdisciplinary perspective, showing me how STEM, education and technology can work together to improve student lives. The hands-on research assistantships I undertook during my studies helped me realize and understand the realities of leading and implementing research, including its challenges and rewards. Working alongside world-class scholars further refined my skills and shaped me into a more thoughtful and effective researcher and person.
Where I Hope To Be in Five Years:
Over the next five years, I aspire to lead transformative efforts that expand and strengthen the global STEM pipeline while broadening access to high-quality learning opportunities for diverse learners. I plan to collaborate with districts, universities and organizations to confront retention and attrition challenges using data-driven, student-centered strategies. I envision overseeing major grants, mentoring interdisciplinary teams and driving the development and continuous improvement of innovative educational solutions. Most importantly, I hope to apply my experience in ed-tech and AI startups to close background knowledge gaps and create pathways that enable every learner to succeed. DM
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