Dr. Hess is currently the Assistant Director of the STEM Education Innovation and Research Institute and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of STEM Education Research in the Department of Technology Leadership and Communication at IUPUI.

His research interests include exploring empathy’s functional role in engineering; designing STEM ethics curricula; and evaluating learning in the spaces of design, ethics, and sustainability. Justin received each of his degrees from Purdue University, including a PhD in Engineering Education, Master of Science in Civil Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Dr. Hess is currently the vice chair of the American Society of Civil Engineers' Committee on Sustainability subcommittee on Formal Engineering Education and Program Chair-Elect of the ASEE Liberal Education/Engineering & Society Division.