She joined the University of Colorado Boulder as an assistant professor of science education in 2001, was promoted to associate professor in 2008, and promoted to full professor in 2014. She became the co-founder and director of the Colorado Learning Assistant Program in 2003, chair of the Department of Math and Science in the university's School of Education in 2010, executive director of the International Learning Assistant Alliance in 2010, and co-founder and co-director of the Center for STEM Learning in 2013.