The Park Scholarships program is excited to announce that Dr. K.C. Busch and Dr. John Meitzen will serve as Park Faculty Scholars for the Class of 2029! These mentors will guide the newest cohort of Park Scholars through their transformative four-year journey at NC State, fostering their development across the pillars of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Read More About Park Faculty ScholarsK.C. and John bring a wealth of experience in science education, neuroscience, and a profound passion for student mentorship. They will join us in welcoming the 30th class of Park Scholars at the Freshman Retreat in August!
Read More About the Class of 2029Dr. K.C. Busch
Official Roles & Accolades
Dr. K.C. Busch is an Associate Professor of STEM Education in the Department of STEM Education within NC State’s College of Education. She also serves as the Science Education Graduate Program Coordinator and as a faculty member in the Leadership in Public Science Interdisciplinary Cluster. Dr. Busch is recognized as an NCSU Academy of Outstanding Teachers and a University Faculty Scholar. Her significant contributions to research and teaching, driven by a commitment to educational excellence, have been honored with the NARST Early Career Research Award (2024), an NSF CAREER Award (2021), and the NCSU Outstanding Teaching Award (2019-2020).
What K.C. is Looking Forward to About Being a Park Faculty Scholar
Dr. Busch’s interest in becoming a Park Faculty Scholar stems from her deep enjoyment of working with undergraduate students and appreciating their energy and optimism. As a parent, she values the shift to being a friendly and supportive advisor, eager to guide students in their growth.
Focus Areas
Inventive Science Education and Learning
Dr. Busch’s expertise centers on science education and learning, particularly exploring and advancing educational experiences that empower individuals to engage in collective action for community improvement. She works collaboratively with undergraduate students aspiring to become science teachers and mentors current science educators pursuing master’s degrees. Further, she advises doctoral students in science education research.
Driven Climate Change Learning and Action
Her research in this area inventively investigates the language used to teach about climate change and its impact on youth perception and capacity for solution-building. Current research, supported by an NSF-funded CAREER grant, also collaboratively examines how North Carolina coastal communities are learning about and adapting to climate change.
Collaborative Learning in Out-of-School Settings
Her innovative approach includes developing and teaching courses on out-of-school learning in settings like museums. Dr. Busch also conducts research on learning processes in informal settings such as science centers and through citizen science projects, where she aims to support educators in these environments.
Current Project
“Education for Thriving in a Changing Climate”
Dr. Busch is currently serving on a National Academies panel to write a consensus report on “Education for Thriving in a Changing Climate,” a significant and driven endeavor that will shape future educational approaches. Her NSF-funded CAREER grant is also actively and inventively re-conceptualizing scientific literacy at the community level.
She considers her most impactful educational experience to be her time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cote D’Ivoire serving as a Community Development Volunteer. This transformative international experience was her first time traveling abroad. The opportunity provided profound learning about herself and others, ultimately shifting her professional goals from law to education.
In her free time, Dr. Busch is an avid reader, particularly enjoying fantasy, romance, and historical fiction. She loves traveling, especially to lake houses where she can read on the dock or kayak. She also enjoys cooking and eating delicious meals. A nature enthusiast, she finds joy in being outdoors and bird watching. She cherishes time with her husband of 25 years, Scott, and their son, Tom, who is studying computer science at UNC Charlotte. She is looking forward to a trip to Copenhagen in August!
“These next four years are a chance to fledge (leave the nest), with a little bit of support! Take advantage and try new things!”
K.C. Busch
Dr. John Meitzen
Official Roles & Accolades
Dr. John Meitzen is a Professor and University Faculty Scholar in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Center for Human Health and the Environment at NC State University. He also serves as the Coordinator for the B.S. in Biology, Integrative Physiology and Neurobiology (IPN) Concentration.
His extensive list of honors highlights his excellence in teaching and research, demonstrating a confident and driven approach to academia:
- Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor, NC State University (2024)
- Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher Award and induction into the Academy of Outstanding Teachers, NC State University (2020)
- Next Generation Award, Society for Neuroscience (2016), for outstanding contributions to public communication, outreach, and education about neuroscience.
- Received the Top Cited Article Award from The Journal of Comparative Neurology multiple times (2025, 2023, 2022, 2021) and the Editor’s Choice Article from the Journal of Personalized Medicine (2025).
- Awarded the American Physiological Society Select Award for distinction in scholarship in the Journal of Neurophysiology.
- Has secured continual funding by the National Institutes of Health since 2016 and has authored 57 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
What John is Looking Forward to About Being a Park Faculty Scholar
Dr. Meitzen’s motivation to become a Park Faculty Scholar is rooted in his passion for sharing neuroscience, collaborating with exceptional individuals, and reciprocating the mentorship he has received. He is “THRILLED to serve as a Park Faculty Scholar and walk with our students on their individual journeys.” His undergraduate experience was shaped by the kindness and demanding standards of key professors who fundamentally influenced his path to neuroscience graduate school. Additionally, he mentioned the profound resonance of the Park community’s four pillars with his personal goals.
Focus Areas
Driven Neuroscience Research
Dr. Meitzen’s primary focus as the Principal Investigator of an NIH-funded neuroscience laboratory is investigating how chemical messengers alter neuron function. He particularly examines this within the context of natural and environmental variables, with a specific emphasis on hormones and striatal brain regions. His research is inherently interdisciplinary, sitting at the intersection of electrophysiology, neuroendocrinology, and environmental and internal factors.
Undergraduate Through Doctoral Neuroscience Education
For his teaching mission, he leads neuroscience courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. These range from foundational principles to specialized doctoral and senior capstone courses such as Motor Systems and Disorders and Neurotoxicology, all delivered with a supportive and engaging approach.
Collaborative Community Engagement: Neuroscience
Service is an integral part of his work. In roles like IPN major coordinator and through external collaboration with local museums, he helps bring neuroscience to the community by organizing public events.
Current Projects
“Brain Night” | “Your Brain on Art” Exhibit
Community Engagement
Dr. Meitzen continues his active research in his NIH-funded neuroscience laboratory. Externally, he’s known for organizing community events like “Brain Night” at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, which attracted over 400 attendees, showcasing a collaborative spirit. A notable ongoing project, open to the public, is the “Your Brain on Art” exhibit at the NC Gregg Museum. This inventive and collaborative exhibition, curated by academics and artists, confidently explores the powerful connection between art and the brain and is on display until September 27, 2025.
He states that learning from his students has unequivocally been his most impactful educational experience, calling it “one of the best parts about serving as a professor.”
In his free time, Dr. Meitzen enjoys a wide array of activities including science, windsurfing, music, jogging, singing loudly in the shower, Wordle, reading, being outside, oceans and beaches, indulging in “food that’s not healthy,” Star Wars, games of all sorts, and spending time with his family and friends. A fun fact about his recent activities: in the 2024-2025 season, he confidently completed both the Krispy Kreme Challenge and the OBX Wind Long Distance Windsurfing Race (12 miles).
Advice for the Class of 2029
Dr. Meitzen offers two crucial pieces of advice to the Park Scholars Class of 2029:
- “Be prepared to take some thoughtful risks – this is how we figure things out, evolve and grow.” He encourages scholars to pursue both “safer” and “riskier” projects, confidently urging them to “Go for it!”
- “College is NOT just about academics.” He intends to push scholars to develop a comprehensive plan that includes academics, high-impact experiences/internships/career exploration, and fun/opportunities unique to this time in their lives.
He also provides practical guidance: “Attend class in person!” and a lighthearted warning: “Don’t watch course videos at 2X/3X/etc. speed. Especially of me, since I already talk fast.”
Welcome to the Park Community, K.C. and John
The addition of Dr. K.C. Busch and Dr. John Meitzen as Park Faculty Scholars for the Class of 2029 reinforces the Park Scholarships program’s commitment to providing exceptional mentorship and fostering a vibrant intellectual community. Their diverse expertise, driven research, and supportive approach will undoubtedly inspire the newest cohort to embrace challenges, explore new frontiers, and make a lasting impact during their time at NC State and beyond.