Grand Rapids Area Pre-College Engineering Program
Bringing Engineering and Education Together

GRAPCEP Professional Staff

Sandra Burmeister, Executive Director
616/732-1188, sandra.burmeister@davenport.edu

Sandra Burmeister, MA, has a background in English Rhetoric and Composition, and she has spent over 20 years in education, directing successful programs at a number of institutions of higher education, including the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Syracuse University. She has many publications and presentations to her credit and has served as a National Certified Supplemental Instruction Trainer for the University of Missouri-Kansas City for over 15 years. She was awarded the 2001 Michigan State University Crystal Apple Award as one of the state's outstanding educators.

Rachel Ford, Curriculum Specialist - Biological Sciences
616/233-2598, rachel.ford@davenport.edu

Rachel Ford has a BA in biology and policy studies from Rice University in Houston, TX.  Upon completion of college, she participated in the Teach For America program in Newark, NJ.  She has taught at both the high school and middle school level, covering the classes of biology, earth science, environmental science, health, computers, middle school science and integrated physical science.  She also has experience as a college admissions counselor.

Nancy Kingsbury, Curriculum Specialist--Math
616/742-2078, nancy.kingsbury@davenport.edu

Nancy Kingsbury has a BS in Secondary Education, Mathematics, and Biology (EX,DA). She retired from Grand Rapids Public School district in 2002 after thirty-three years of teaching. During her time with GRPS, she joined GRAPCEP as a teacher. After retirement from the GRPS, she went on to help Montessori schools with the Erdkinder (land-farm school) and taught in Africa. Serving as interim principal of a small Lutheran school helped her decide that teaching was her passion.