STEM education fosters critical thinking and sparks innovation to address hard problems, like food supply, global warming, infrastructure, and security.
Give us 3-5 adjectives that describe you…
Funny, harmonious, intelligent, and independent
Briefly describe your job… what do you really do at EL?
I help schools onboard our solutions. This involves speaking with school stakeholders on a daily basis to support their setup, implementation goals, and success.
What do you like about working at EL?
First, I truly believe in our STEM solutions and like working for a company whose products I can get behind. Second, I love the culture at EL—my coworkers are collaborative, thoughtful, and inclusive!
What's the most seriously fun thing you've ever done?
Parasailing in Hawaii
Tell us about one of your STEM mentors. Who inspired you, and how?
To be honest, I still remember science lessons from Bill Nye the Science Guy and Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. That goes to show how memorable and informative children’s programming can be. Bill Nye made science accessible and exciting, making every kid want to do science experiments at home. With the cartoon Magic School Bus and similarly excited teacher, they showed us science through animation, which allowed us to shrink down into the body’s digestive system or see what sound waves looked like. In this way, they sparked my interest in STEM for a lifetime.
What big STEM accomplishment do you think we’ll see happen in the next 100 years, and why are you excited about it?
To survive another 100 years, we must first develop a way to reverse global warming or escape to another planet, so I would be excited to see what advancements we can make in space travel.
Why is STEM education important, in your personal opinion?
Related to my last answer, our species must continually evolve to meet its own demands. STEM education fosters critical thinking and sparks innovation to address hard problems, like food supply, global warming, infrastructure, and security.
Artificial intelligence… friend or foe?
Foe for sure. Have we learned nothing from Judgement Day?? I am a huge science fiction fan, and they’ve already predicted the outcome for us. AI gains sentience and takes over the world. I find that very probable.
Chemistry or Biology
Biology – I hate stoichiometry!
Algebra or Geometry
Algebra
Learn a language or learn how to code
Language – more practical for traveling
Deep space or deep sea
Xenomorph or Megalodon…. neither!
Bill Nye or Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Both! While Bill Nye connects with younger audiences, I watched Neil DeGrasse Tyson on NOVA and Cosmos when I was older.
Einstein or Newton
Both – both have been instrumental in scientific advancements, but so have many others
Star Wars or Star Trek
Star Wars
Keyboard or Paper + Pencil
Both! If I want to write quickly, then keyboard. If I want to remember it, then paper & pencil.
Playlists or podcasts
Playlists
In the classroom… Front row or back row
Front row
Who's next?