Dr. Derrick Anthony Nero
- Teacher Education, Associate Professor
General Information
Biography
Dr. Nero began his professional career as an Electrical Engineer. He worked for Raytheon Services Nevada, Bechtel Nevada, and Hunt & Hunt Engineering which included work on the 138 KV Substation Modernization Project at the Nevada National Security Site, the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Operations Headquarters in North Las Vegas, NV and the Washington Aerial Measurements Operations Facility at Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, MA, U.S. Department of Energy Nevada Operations Office General Plant Projects and Bechtel Nevada Indirect Projects, and the Houston Independent School District - Priority 1 Life Safety Improvement Plan.In 2000, he transitioned to education and later worked in alternative and STEM education for Omaha Public Schools for 11 years and worked collaboratively with UNO and the Peter Kiewit Institute to develop and implement the use of robotics as an educational platform. In 2014, he became a full-time Instructor at UNO, in 2018 he became an Assistant Professor of Engineering Education, and in 2024 became a tenured Associate Professor of Engineering Education. He currently teaches and develops teacher education courses for pre-service teachers, engineering education courses for in-service teachers, and use high-altitude ballooning near-space experiments to foster science and engineering practices for secondary and college students.
Teaching Interests
Engineering education
Research Interests
Inquiry-based learning, authentic learning experiences, and engaging underrepresented groups.
Service Summary
Dr. Nero is the UNO STEM TRAIL Center Associate Director for External Partnerships, UNO North Omaha Initiative Advisory Board member, UNO MavEd Natural & Physical Science Subcommittee Chair, Omaha Schools Scholarship Foundation member, Omaha Public Schools Superintendent's College and Career Academies and Pathway Council member, faculty advisor to UNO NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers) and UNO Black Excellence student organizations, and a mentor to the UNL Aerospace eXperimental Payloads team.
Education
EDD, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, Educational Leadership, K-12 Engineering Education, 2018
MS, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, Special Education - Learning Disabilities, 2004
BS, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, Electrical Engineering, 1994
Research & Creative Interests
- K–12 Engineering Education
- Authentic learning experiences
- Engaging underrepresented groups