Cathi Cox-Boniol

With over forty years of education experience, Cathi Cox-Boniol now serves as Director of the SCILS Region 8 LaSTEM Center at Louisiana Tech University. A STEM education consultant with “Side by Side Strategies,” she is also an independent writer and author serving as Community News Editor for the Ruston Daily Leader while serving on the Editorial Review Board for Technology and Engineering Teacher and the Elementary STEM Journal.

With work highlighted in eight different publications, Cathi co-authored three engineering education books for Bonamy Publishing. A state trainer for the national OpenSciEd curriculum, Cathi serves as Secretary for ITEEA's Council for STEM Leadership and was named Outstanding State/Province Leader. Most recently she was honored with the William E. Warner Professional Practice Award by Epsilon Pi Tau.

Honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, Cathi earned the distinction of “Louisianian of the Year” for her activism and advocacy around STEM education. Recognized with the NSELA Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award and Claudia Fowler Distinguished Service to Science Education Award, she also received the ITEEA Public Understanding of Technology & Engineering Education Award. Named Louisiana Tech University Alumna of the Year, Cathi received the historic Lincoln Parish Robert E. Russ Award.

Listed among Delta Style Magazine’s “Sweet Sixteen” Most Influential Women, Cathi earned the Kappa Delta Sorority Order of the Pearl Award for her prominence in professional and civic service at the national, state, and local level. A lifelong resident of Ruston, Louisiana, Cathi is married to Tom Boniol where they actively serve Temple Baptist Church as well as the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Tech University Alumni Association, North Central Louisiana Arts Council, United Way of Northeast Louisiana, VFW, Kappa Delta and other service initiatives.