STEM education promotes critical thinking and curiosity. And positive change starts with asking questions. To give students a strong foundation in STEM education is to give them the tools to change the world!
Give us 3-5 adjectives that describe you…
Empathetic, loyal, easy-going, sociable, hard-working
Briefly describe your job… what do you really do at EL?
I support the Customer Success Partner team! I make sure the CSPs have the support they need to provide the incredible support they do to customer in giving them the best ExploreLearning experience possible.
What do you like about working at EL?
The people are amazing. There’s a passion in every team and individual that works here. And we are all working together to better the educational future of students.
What's the most seriously fun thing you've ever done?
Probably skiing!
Tell us about one of your STEM mentors. Who inspired you, and how?
Brandon Griffin, my undergraduate research mentor at VCU. He showed me the intersection of math and science and how an understanding of both can really change how you think. It resulted in a career shift into teaching mathematics and working with students in need of math intervention. It was a change that gave me a lot of meaning in my life. And now, I get to help support this type of positive change at an amazing scale!
What big STEM accomplishment do you think we’ll see happen in the next 100 years, and why are you excited about it?
I’m hopeful we’ll continue to see many advancements in modern medicine and medical technology. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to overcome the limitations of finding cures for diseases such as cancer as well as make continuing advancements in fields such as prosthetic technology. And also space travel, that would be pretty cool!
Why is STEM education important, in your personal opinion?
Mathematics and Science give us the means to understand our world and how it works. Technology gives us the means to make positive, impactful changes to it. More than just this, STEM education promotes critical thinking and curiosity. And positive change starts with asking questions. To give students a strong foundation in STEM education is to give them the tools to change the world!
Time travel… past or future?
Future
Artificial intelligence… friend or foe?
Friend!
How long would you survive a zombie apocalypse? Why?
Hopefully the entire time. I’ve seen all 11 seasons of The Walking Dead, so it’s safe to say I’ve done the requisite preparation and research.
Chemistry or Biology
Chemistry
Algebra or Geometry
Both. Both are the foundations for so many practical applications of math in the real world.
Learn a language or learn how to code
Learn a language – Being able to communicate with as many people as possible is always a plus
Deep space or deep sea
Deep space – Sea monsters? No thank you.
Bill Nye or Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Bill Nye – Bill! Bill! Bill!
Einstein or Newton
Newton – Calculus is pretty cool
Star Wars or Star Trek
Star Trek
Keyboard or Paper + Pencil
Paper + Pencil
Playlists or podcasts
Podcasts
In the classroom… Front row or back row
Back row
Who's next?