Dr. H. Justin Ballenger is an Assistant Professor of STEM Education in Mercer University's Tift College of Education. He has extensive experience with the implementation of programming that supports the academic development of youth from under-served populations. Dr. Ballenger is the Executive Director of the STEM Education Innovation Lab or SEI Lab on Mercer’s Atlanta Campus. He also serves as a team member on Mercer’s Education Initiative in the Dominican Republic where he directs the AgSTEM Project (DR).

Dr. Ballenger’s research agenda is focused on the academic achievement of under-served populations and pathways for students from under-served backgrounds to pursue STEM careers both in the United States and abroad. As a component of this research he also investigates teaching practices and teacher preparation programs for STEM educators.

Dr. Ballenger is a published author and regularly presents at national and international conferences on issues related to STEM Education, Access and Equity, Teacher Preparation, and Community Engagement. Dr. Ballenger is engaged with a number of STEM outreach and teacher preparation programs locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Ballenger is a fellow with the Urban Leadership Fellowship, a Southern Region Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholar, an African Scientific Institute Fellow, he is recognized as a Master Teacher and mentor with the Call Me MiSTER Program, and is a National Board-Certified Science Teacher.

His public community engagement includes serving as the Board Chair for STEM Initiatives with Africa Diaspora Nations and an executive board member for Real I.M.P.A.C.T Center, Inc.