Gess-Newsome has devoted her academic career to the preparation and support of teachers and received recognition from the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, the Association for Science Teacher Education, and the American Education Research Association for her research. Over her career, she has attracted more than $14 million in state and federal research and education grants. With support from the National Science Foundation, Gess-Newsome lead an international research effort to better define and improve science teacher knowledge and classroom practice.

Julie Gess-Newsome, a professor of science education, retired as the Dean of Academic Affairs at OSU-Cascades in 2020. Prior to that she served as the Dean of the Graduate School of Education at Willamette University in Salem, Ore and as the J. Lawrence Walkup Distinguished Professor of Science Education at Northern Arizona University’s Center for Science Teaching and Learning for more than a decade. She is a past member of the board of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study and a past president of the Association for Science Teacher Education.