Ruth Catchen received her Bachelor of Music degree from American University and her Master of Music degree from The Catholic University of America, in Vocal Performance and performed with many distinguished opera companies, conductors and orchestras in the United States. During that time, she created a series of lecture recitals called “opera coffees” in which she performed and discussed the history of pieces of music and operatic traditions. Later in her career, she turned her direction to music education and founded a youth chorale with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra in Naples, Florida. This group grew from 45 children to over a hundred from a three county area. They performed with the orchestra as well as with well-known conductors such as Pops great, Erich Kunzel.
After moving to Colorado, Catchen focused her attention to public education, hoping to better its quality and depth. She received her second master’s degree in 2007 from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in Curriculum and Instruction/Leadership. Since then, she has worked in developing arts integrated programs for various schools, school districts and STEM enrichment programs. Her work includes comprehensive marketing through social media. Her passion is to promote excellent instruction that supports teachers, including professional development and pre-service teacher programs. Through consulting work, Catchen brings educational opportunities to disadvantaged youth, schools, and other non-profit organizations by bringing STEM education to life for children by connecting it to the arts and other core academics, STEM to STEAM . Along with being the the Artist-In-Residence at Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy in Colorado Springs, Catchen was recently published in the peer-reviewed The STEAM Journal and appointed to a National task force to create a protocol for STEAM education. She serves as the Co-Chair for The Girls' STEM Experience in Southern Colorado and on the both the Think Tank to create STEM standards and Content Collaborative for the Colorado Department of Education.

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Enhancing STEM: The Arts Effect