An Iowa native, Beth Dykstra VanMeeteren, Ed.D. began her career as an early childhood teacher in a rural Iowa school earning an MAE in literacy education along the way. In 2001, she relocated to Cedar Falls where she was First Grade Lead Instructor at the Freeburg Early Childhood Program in East Waterloo, an experimental early childhood research school for the University of Northern Iowa. VanMeeteren designed and piloted first and second grade experiences in Ramps & Pathways, an integrative approach to force and motion with young children which was ultimately funded by the National Science Foundation. 

She went on to develop other early STEM curriculum and professional learning for the Iowa Regents’ Center. Upon earning a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on engineering in early STEM, she became Director. In addition to this role, she serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction for the University of Northern Iowa. VanMeeteren delivers keynotes and professional learning on integrative early STEM at the state, national, and international levels. Her current research interests include integrative STEM and literacy in grades PreK-2.