Key Staff

Jeff Goldstein, Ph.D.
Center Director, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE)
Institute Director, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education

Dr. Jeff Goldstein is a nationally recognized science educator, and planetary scientist, who has dedicated his career to the public understanding of science and the joys of learning.

As NCESSE Center Director, he is responsible for overseeing the creation and delivery of national science education initiatives with a focus on earth and space. These include programs for schools, families, and the public; professional development for grade K-12 educators; and exhibitions for museums and science centers. Initiatives are meant to provide a window on the nature of science and the lives of modern-day explorers, with special emphasis on not just what is known about Earth and space but how it has come to be known. Programs embrace a Learning Community Model for science education.

Jeff oversaw the creation of the Center’s national science education initiatives, including the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), which immerses hundreds of students across each participating community in the real space program. A proposed student-designed microgravity experiment in each community is selected to launch on a SpaceX rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and be transported to the International Space Station where it is operated by the astronauts.

As Director of the Voyage National Program, he led the inter-organizational team that permanently installed the Voyage model Solar System on the National Mall in Washington, DC, in front of the Smithsonian and is author of the storyboards. The exhibition is dedicated to an understanding of Earth’s place in space. The Center is now permanently installing replicas in communities across the U.S. (see Voyage in DC, Houston, Corpus Christi, and Kansas City.)

Jeff also created, directs, and is the principal presenter for the Family Science Night program at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, which has seen participation by over 56,000 attendees from over 200 Washington, DC, metro area schools.

He also oversees Journey through the Universe—a national science education initiative that engages entire communities—students, teachers, families, and the public. The program has engaged 200,000 students in 1,550 schools across the U.S. with 100 Visiting Researchers – scientists and engineers from over 25 research organizations reflecting government, academia, and industry, including 7 NASA Centers.

Jeff was Director for the Center’s activities supporting NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft mission to Mercury, which included establishment of the MESSENGER Educator Fellows, a corps of master science teachers. The Fellows provided training for 25,000 teachers on curricular content in Solar System science and exploration over the mission lifetime from 2004-15, translating into experiences for over 1 million students..

Jeff’s planetary science research includes the development of techniques for measuring global winds on other planets using large telescopes on Earth. His research has produced the first direct measurement of the global winds above the clouds on Venus, and the first measurement of the global winds on Mars.

Program Director: Student Spaceflight Experiments Program,Voyage National Program, Journey through the Universe, Family Science Night at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program
Blogger: Dr. Jeff’s Blog on the Universe
Contributing Blogger: Huffington Post
Prior: EVP for Space Science Education and Research, Challenger Center (1996-2005); Astrophysicist, Laboratory for Astrophysics, Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (1989-1996), departing as Acting Chair
Degrees: B.A., Physics, Queens College, City University of New York; M.S. and Ph.D., Astrophysics, University of Pennsylvania; recipient of the 1990 Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award, U. Penn Chapter, Sigma Xi
Research: 10-micron infrared heterodyne remote sensing of global circulation in planetary atmospheres
Notable: Ph.D. research as NASA Graduate Student Researcher, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; attended the Bronx High School of Science; 2016 NASA Award for Most Compelling Science on the International Space Station; recipient of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s 2005 Klumpke-Roberts Award for “Outstanding Contributions to the Public Understanding and Appreciation of Astronomy”; recipient of the 1995 Barry M. Goldwater Educator of the Year Award from the National Capital Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics for “an individual of national stature who has supported the advancement of science and technology in commerce and education at all levels”; in 1998, part of the NASA AImS team that imaged in the  infrared the Star Spangled Banner at the National Museum of American History to identify contaminants, and help guide flag restoration by Museum conservators; proud Zumba / cardio-dance instructor since 2017.

Highlight: Symphony of Science Music Video We’ve Got To Be That Light
A remix of Dr. Goldstein’s keynote address to 6,000 teachers at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Conference, March 2011.

Highlight: Jeff Goldstein Interview on Human Exploration with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Interview with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Kauffman Conversations –  “highlight interviews with guests whose ideas and insights are changing society. We are privileged to talk to these thought leaders, innovators, experts and authors and share their observations about their work, lives, and fields of expertise.” The interview addresses the nature of human existence in the greater universe using the context of the Voyage 1 to 10 billion scale model Solar System installed in Kansas City, MO, which is a replica of Voyage on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Twitter: http//twitter.com/doctorjeff
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drjeff
Email: jeffgoldstein@ncesse.org

 

Stacy Hamel
Senior Education Program Manager/SSEP Senior Flight Operations Manager, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE)

As the Senior Flight Operations Manager for the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), Stacy oversees the Flight Operations team and all aspects of SSEP from the microgravity experiment design and proposal competition phase, to proposal review and selection, experiment refinement and validation for flight, launch, on-orbit operations, to experiment return to Earth for harvesting and analysis. Stacy also serves as the liaison to Nanoracks on all flight experiments and activities associated with NASA flight safety review. Stacy manages SSEP international participation through the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education.

As the Senior Education Program Manager at the Center, Stacy co-directs many of the Center’s Education Programs, including Journey through the Universe – a national science education initiative that engages entire communities—students, teachers, families, and the public—using education programs in the Earth and space sciences and space exploration that inspire and educate. Over 200,000 grade preK-12 students have participated in Journey through the Universe.

Her previous experience at the Center included managing the MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program, the Center’s nationwide professional development initiative for educators in support of NASA’s MESSENGER mission to Mercury, which trained over 20,000 grade K-12 teachers on solar system science and exploration from program inception in 2004 through the end of the mission in 2015. She also co-directed the Voyage National Program – a national public education and outreach program that is installing replicas of the Voyage Scale Model Solar System located on the National Mall in Washington, DC in communities worldwide. Stacy also oversaw the management of the Center’s Family Science Night program at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, which has been running for 25 years, and has seen attendance by over 50,000 students, teachers, and parents.

Notable: MESSENGER Education and Public Outreach Team Member
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyhamelssep/
Email: stacyhamel@ncesse.org

 

John Hamel
Education Program Manager/SSEP Flight Operations Manager, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE)

John is the Education Program Manager at the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and a Flight Operations Manager for the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program. As a Flight Operations Manager, John provides logistics support for all phases of flight operations from experiment design and proposal through experiment return to Earth for harvesting and analysis. He also oversees coordination for the annual SSEP National Conference, organization of SSEP delegations attending a launch, the Mission Patch design competitions for each SSEP Mission and contributes to website content development.

In his role as Education Program Manager, he provides logistics and coordination support for NCESSE’s various programs, including the Voyage National Program and Journey through the Universe.

John also manages the Center’s Family Science Night Program at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, which has been operating for over 25 years. The program has impacted over 50,000 students, teachers and their families.

John has extensive experience with non-profit education organizations and a certified association management group. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech and spent the early years of his career working directly with pre-school and school-aged children, first as a classroom teacher and later as a Center Assistant Director.

Notable: MESSENGER Education and Public Outreach Team Member
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-p-hamel-82405b6/
Email: johnhamel@ncesse.org

 

Drew Roman
Director of Educational Technology, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education

Drew Roman is the primary driver of information technology at the Center, from providing the core IT infrastructure, handling the Center’s internet operations to leveraging social media. Drew has over 20 years of enterprise-level IT experience and is an Air Force veteran. When not working with NCESSE, Drew acts as Senior Manager, Cloud Operations at Deltek, Inc. an enterprise software company focused on the needs of project-oriented businesses. His passion for science, technology, engineering and space exploration fuels his enthusiasm for helping to inspire the next generation of explorers.

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drewroman
Twitter: http://twitter.com/drewmanchu

 

Adjunct Staff

Matthew Bobrowsky, Ph.D.
Adjunct Space Science Researcher, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Faculty Member, Delaware State University
Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland Global Campus

Dr. Matt Bobrowsky is a nationally recognized science educator and recipient of multiple awards for teaching excellence. He is the lead author of the Phenomenon-Based Learning books for teaching physical science. Matt teaches various scientific subjects, carries out scientific research, and engages in numerous public speaking events. Currently at Delaware State University (DSU), recent experience includes serving as Director of the Physics Demonstration Facility at UMCP, a collection of 1,600 science demonstrations.

Matt teaches at DSU and the University of Maryland Global Campus (formerly UMUC), where he has received multiple awards (an example). He has developed science curriculum materials and presented countless workshops to teachers and the public. His educational presentations address topics such as the process of science, misconceptions in science, effective science teaching and science vs. pseudoscience.

His public presentations on astronomy are entertaining and educational. Matt also delivers other types of presentations, such as after-dinner talks for corporate events. Read about his keynote address at the opening of the Heavens Above exhibit at the State University of NY at Geneseo.

As an astrophysicist, Matt’s research includes astronomical observations with many telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope. His specialty is the study of planetary nebulae – clouds of gas expanding outward from aging stars. One planetary nebula that he discovered using Hubble is the Stingray Nebula.

Degrees: B.A., Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University; M.S. and Ph.D., Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland
Research: Planetary Nebulae; Astronomy Education
Notable: Hubble Space Telescope Observer
Keynote Speaker at 2009 conference of the West Virginia Science Teachers Association and featured presenter at conference of the MN Science Teachers Association; Won the UMD Stanley J. Drazek Teaching Excellence Award (given to the top two instructors out of ~800)
Email: mbobrowsky@desu.edu

 

Michael Hulslander
Adjunct Space Science Educator, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
How Things Fly Manager, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Mike is responsible for STEM education in the Museum’s How Things Fly gallery, which teaches visitors about the science of flight. Mike has also taken a leading role in helping to reimagine all 23 galleries and presentation spaces as part of the seven-year project to transform the National Mall Building for a new generation of visitors. Mike has worked in museums and zoos for more than 29 years, researching, writing, presenting and evaluating STEM programs for school groups, educators, families, and the general public.

Michael is also an adjunct faculty member at the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education, and he oversees all museum activities for the annual National Conference for the Center’s Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) held at the National Air and Space Museum each July. He also serves as a Science Education Advisor to the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.

Notable: Author of How Things Fly website
Presenter, Creative Mornings Washington D.C.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hulslander-42b9a016/
Email: HulslanderM@si.edu

 

Timothy Livengood, Ph.D.
Adjunct Space Science Researcher, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Research Scientist, University of Maryland, College Park

Tim Livengood is a planetary scientist at the University of Maryland and Goddard Space Flight Center, working with optical and nuclear remote-sensing methods to measure the composition, temperature, and wind velocity in planetary atmospheres from Earth- and space-based platforms. He is the principal investigator for the Submillimeter Solar Observation Lunar Volatiles Experiment being developed at GSFC as a landed experiment to measure the tenuous lunar water atmosphere. Tim is also a co-investigator on several other operating or developmental instrument programs, including the Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND), the Submillimeter Enceladus Life Fundamentals Instrument (SELFI), Detecting Objects’ Water by Spatial Epithermal-neutron Response (DOWSER), and Surface and Exosphere Alteration by Landings (SEAL). He has inherited the mantle of PI for the Heterodyne Instrument for Planetary Winds and Composition and has recently published a paper using HIPWAC data to demonstrate a variation in oxygen isotope ratios in Mars atmosphere due to ground temperature. Tim was a co-investigator of NASA’s EPOXI mission, for which he was the education and public outreach team leader on the EPOCh component (Extrasolar Planets Observation and Characterization), and he was King of the Earth for EPOXI observations of Earth and Mars as exoplanet analogs. Tim also has a very public hobby as a storyteller and organizer of storytelling events, especially The Grapevine Storytelling Series in Takoma Park.

Degrees: B.A., Physics, Washington University; M.S. and Ph.D., Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University
Research: Temperature, Composition, Wind, and Seasons in Planetary Atmospheres, as well as Auroras and Impacts
Notable: NASA EPOXI Mission
EPOXI/EPOCh Education and Public Outreach Team Leader
Dr. Tim starring in Kelly’s music videos
Email: timothy.a.livengood@nasa.gov

 

Harri Vanhala, Ph.D.
Adjunct Space Science Researcher, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Senior Subject Matter Expert, Arctic Slope Technical Services

Originally from Finland, Harri received his Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Oulu. Harri has worked in various research and education organizations in the Unites States for 16 years. His science research focuses on the use of computer simulations to investigate the origin of the Solar System, and development of computer models to investigate the properties of present-day planets.

His science education activities have included hundreds of visits to grade K-12 classrooms, conducting teacher training workshops, teaching college courses, and presentations to families and the public—he is one of the presenters for the Center’s Family Science Night program at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Dr. Vanhala has also led multiple Journey through the Universe National Teams of scientists and engineers to under-served communities across the U.S., each Team spending an entire week in a community and talking to thousands of grade K-12 students one classroom at time.

Until 2012, Harri managed the Center’s MESSENGER Educator Fellowship Program, Family Science Night Program at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, and served as the National Program Manager for the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program. Currently, Harri is working as a Senior Subject Matter Expert at Arctic Slope Technical Services, working with NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) and Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). Harri continues on staff at the Center as an Adjunct Space Science Researcher, and participates in the delivery of the Center’s education and public outreach programs. He also serves as a Science Advisor to the Center’s Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.

Degrees: M.Sc., Ph.Lic., and Ph.D. in Astronomy, University of Oulu, Finland
Research: The origin of the Solar System, Star and Planetary System Formation, Interstellar Medium
Notable: MESSENGER Education and Public Outreach Team Member
NASA Human Exploration and Operations: NASA physical sciences research program, including soliciting new investigations to be conducted on the International Space Station and using the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics system
NASA Technology Mission Directorate: NASA Flight Opportunities, STMD public-private partnership programs (including Tipping Point and Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity)
Recipient of 2016 NASA Group Achievement Award
Email: harri.vanhala@nasa.gov

 

Adjunct Staff – Student Spaceflight Experiments Program

Shaun Brinsmade, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Professor of Biology, Georgetown University

Our research interests have focused on Staphylococcus aureus, a human commensal bacterium that colonizes up to 30% of the population. The bacterium is also a major human pathogen that is a leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, infectious heart disease, and bacteremia. These devastating diseases occur in healthcare settings and in the community. Increasing antibiotic resistance compounds the problem, and the lack of a broad and efficacious vaccine emphasizes the need for novel anti-infectives and therapies.

Our group uses the power of S. aureus genetics in combination with biochemistry and genomics to unravel biological questions at the intersection between bacterial physiology and pathogenesis in Gram-positive bacteria. Our group has focused on a variety of topics that are broadly grouped under the theme of nutritional regulation of pathogenesis. Currently, we are working to understand the role of the nutrient-sensing global transcriptional regulator CodY during infection. For more information, please see https://www.brinsmadelab.com

Degrees: B.S. Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut-Storrs, Ph.D. Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Research: Bacterial Physiology, Pathogenesis, Molecular Biology
Notable: Dr. Brinsmade has peer-reviewed for a number of scientific journals including Molecular Microbiology, Journal of Bacteriology, ACS Infectious Diseases, and is on the editorial board for Frontiers in Microbiology. He also review grant proposals for the National Institutes of Health and NASA.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SBrinsmade
Email: shaun.brinsmade@georgetown.edu

 

Michelle M. Brooks, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Senior Manager, ACS Approval Program, American Chemical Society

Currently, Michelle manages and administers the undergraduate chemistry approval program for institutions in the United States. Her team and a team of ACS members develop the guidelines that define excellence in chemistry education. They establish processes for both applying for and maintaining ACS Approval and provide examples of best practices in chemistry education pedagogy. Her role at ACS includes a wide array of responsibilities including management, evaluation and analysis of institutional data sets, communication with the broader chemistry community on current educational practices and the development of evaluative measures for assessment of chemistry undergraduate programs.

Degrees: B.S. in Biochemistry, M.S. in Chemistry, Ph.D. in Chemistry
Research: Chemical Education
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-brooks-72ab767/
Email: m_brooks@acs.org

 

Daniel Crooks, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Staff Scientist, Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute

Dr. Crooks conducts translational research on familial renal cancer syndromes in the Urologic Oncology Branch located at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. Current research is primarily focused on hereditary cancers caused by mutations in the Krebs cycle enzymes fumarate hydratase and succinate dehydrogenase. The goal is to utilize stable isotope-resolved metabolomics to identify metabolic alterations in human tumors and tumor cells that can offer new therapeutic possibilities for this unique patient population.

Long term research interests include development and utilization of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry platforms for metabolic analyses in human tissues and cells. The focus is on atom-level resolution of metabolic transformations using stable isotope labeling of human tumor tissue both in vivo and ex vivo.

Previous research included studies of the cellular machinery responsible for biosynthesis of iron-sulfur (FeS) clusters. FeS clusters are ancient molecular cofactors involved in diverse and essential cellular functions including electron transfer, enzymatic catalysis, and regulation of cellular iron and oxygen metabolism. Dr. Crooks investigated the role of FeS clusters in red blood cell development and in patients with hereditary mitochondrial myopathy caused by mutation of the FeS scaffold protein ISCU.

Degrees: B.A. Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz; M.S. Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz; Ph.D. Biochemistry, Georgetown University
Research: Cancer Metabolism, Mitochondrial Metabolism, Iron Sulfur Clusters, Cellular Respiration, Hereditary Diseases
Notable: Interests related to human spaceflight include conceptual strategies for effective culture of mammalian cells in microgravity utilizing minimal resources and astronaut interaction, and to gain a better understanding of the influence of microgravity and altered atmospheric oxygen levels on cellular energy metabolism in human tissues and cultured cells.
Email: danRcrooks@yahoo.com

 

Daniel J. Dwyer, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, College Park

Dan is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland with appointments in the Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics and the Institute for Physical Sciences and Technology. He was hired as part of a cluster hire in Quantitative Biology after training with National Academy of Science members, Dr. James Collins and Dr. Graham Walker. His Ph.D. was earned from the Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemistry (MOCB) program at Boston University, where he was also an NSF Research Training Grant post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Math & Statistics.

The Dwyer Laboratory (www.dwyerlab.umd.edu) combines systems and synthetic biology approaches with traditional microbiology methods to develop a predictive understanding of bacterial metabolism under stress. We are most interested in applying these approaches to address questions associated with antibiotic resistance and antibiotic mode-of-action. For example, the lab investigates how bacteria remodel their metabolism to support carrying and expressing genes that confer resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. We also study the role of secondary metabolic responses to antibiotic stress in susceptible bacteria to determine the contribution of off-target damage to bioenergetic collapse and cell death. We are strongly motivated by the spread and evolution of resistance, as well as family members who have been hospitalized with antibiotic resistant infections, to identify unique metabolic targets for novel therapies, enhancement of current therapies and preservation of our antibiotic arsenal.

Degrees: Ph.D. (Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry Program, Boston University, 2007)
Research: Antibiotic Resistance, Antibiotic Mode-of-action, Systems Biology, Synthetic Biology
Notable: Dr. Dwyer was a lead contributor to the development of the first RNA synthetic biology device, among the first to apply biological network approaches to gene expression analysis of bacteria under stress, and a lead author on papers to first propose that bacterial cell death following antibiotic challenge involves metabolic inefficiencies that stimulate reactive oxygen species generation.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-dwyer-a554ab4b/
Email: djdwyer@umd.edu

 

Jose A. Feijo, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Professor, University of Maryland

Professor of Cell Biology, Plant Physiology and Scientific Reasoning and Models in Biology. Active Scientific Researcher in the areas of Plant Biology, Plant Reproduction, Cell and Developmental Biology, Cellular Biophysics, Biological Imaging, Plant Electrophysiology (representative references and impact in).Organizer and Co-organizer of more than 20 International Courses in Plant Development, Biological Imaging and Biophysics of Development, the latter at the University of Maryland. Active organizer of societal interfaces of various scientific aspects, including multiple high impact initiatives for Darwin’s bicentenary (2009-12) and founding and scientific board member for Biology of the most visited science education portal in Portuguese (www.casadasciencias.org) and sole editor for Biology of its satellite site for translated nomenclature (wikiciencias.casadasciencias.org) (2008-2014). Promoter of exhibitions and workshops in the interfaces between science and art, mostly recently the exhibition “Worlds Within” by British artist Rob Kesseler (https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/events/4053), later acquired by crowd funding and alumni patronage and now the patrimony of the Biology Community and general public at the BioSciences Research Building in the University of Maryland (College Park).

Degrees: MSc. Plant Biotechnology; PhD. in Cell Biology
Research: Plant Biology, Plant Reproduction, Cell and Developmental Biology, Cellular Biophysics, Biological Imaging, Plant Electrophysiology
Notable: Full-Bright Fellow; Fellow of the Linnean Society (London); Awarded multiple fellowships and a prizes by various societies in Portugal and international. Over the past decade delivered over a 120 seminars and conferences in the most reputed Departments/Universities all over the 5 continents and in the most significant Congresses/Symposia in the areas of expertise.
Email: jfeijo@umd.edu

 

Ann S. Hobbs, Ph.D., J.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Biochemist and Patent Attorney (retired)

Ann Hobbs holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, and devoted a number of years to biochemical and physiological research on cation transport across cell membranes, in particular the sodium-potassium pump. A large part of her scientific career was spent at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Maryland Medical School. Dr. Hobbs subsequently earned a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law and became a patent attorney, her legal practice focusing on medical, biotechnological and pharmaceutical inventions. She spent several years in the Office of Technology Transfer at NIH before moving to private practice. She is a former partner of Venable LLP, Washington, D.C.

Degrees: Ph.D. Biophysics, University of Maryland at Baltimore; J.D. University of Maryland School of Law
Email: Hobbs_ann@msn.com

 

Jeff Leips, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The primary research interest in my lab focuses on understanding genetic basis of natural variation in aging. In particular, we are focused on identifying the genes that influence the age-related declines in the ability to fight infection, reproduction, and physical performance traits such as strength speed and endurance. We use the fruit fly as a model organism given its short life span, wide array of genetic tools and the fact that over 60% of the genes in Drosophila are shared with vertebrates like humans. We utilize a variety of genomic tools including genome wide association mapping and transcriptomics with follow up functional genetic tools to understand how these genes affect the focal trait.

Degrees: Bachelor of Science, Florida State University; Ph.D., Florida State University
Research: Life History, Aging, Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, Genetic Mapping
Notable: 98 Rock podcast on “Why don’t dogs live that long”
Leips Lab Homepage: https://leipslab.umbc.edu/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-leips-24903a8a/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffleips
Email: leips@umbc.edu

 

David Livengood, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Retired, Former Chairman of Physiology and Cellular Radiobiology, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute

Dr. Livengood’s science career spans nearly 50 years from student to department Chairmen and retirement. Over that time he has been mainly interested in cellular neurobiology and biophysics of membrane function, with particular interest in synaptic transmission and the function of the sodium/potassium exchange pump in neuronal tissue. These interests include how toxins and heavy metals may interact at both the membrane pumps and at both pre and post synaptic membranes.

Research: Synaptic Transmission, Cellular Control of Ion Distribution
Email: David_livengood@msn.com

 

David M. Loeb, M.D., Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Associate Professor, Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Chief, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Cellular Therapy, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore

David Loeb, MD, PhD, is Chief, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. He is also an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Professor of Developmental and Molecular Biology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. As Director of the Sarcoma Program, he focuses on tumors of connective tissue, such as bone and muscle. He also has expertise in the care of children with other solid tumors. A member of the bone marrow transplantation team, Dr. Loeb also cares for patients with acute leukemias and has expertise in the application of immunotherapy to childhood cancer.

Dr. Loeb’s research focuses on understanding bone tumor metastasis. His laboratory developed a clinically relevant mouse model of sarcoma metastasis, and has used this model to perform preclinical testing of novel agents that can interfere with this process. In particular, active research projects are investigating the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in metastasis of both osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. He also studies the role of an enzyme called RNA helicase DDX3 in Ewing sarcoma biology, especially how this enzyme affects the repair of damaged DNA. Dr. Loeb’s original research, based on his clinical studies, has been published in multiple journals and books.

Degrees: BA, Biology, Johns Hopkins University; Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Doctor of Medicine, Columbia University. In 1994, he also began an internship in Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in 1995 and a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology Oncology at the same institution.
Research: Sarcoma, Cancer, Metastasis, Helicase, DNA Damage Repair
Email: david.loeb@einsteinmed.org

 

Todd Miller, Ph.D., CSCS*D, TSAC-F FNSCA
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Professor, The George Washington University Miliken Institute School of Public Health

Todd Miller is an Associate Professor of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, and an internationally known expert in the field of Strength & Conditioning. Todd has always had a strong interest in space, and began to formally research the human adaptations to space travel while pursuing his doctoral work at Texas A&M. While working as a Strength coach for the Athletic Department, Todd became interested in learning how the body adapts during exposure to long term space travel. He was specifically interested in what types of exercise countermeasures could be employed to help prevent losses in muscle, bone, and cardiovascular function with long term exposure to microgravity. He took a hiatus from training elite athetes to spend several years working in the lab of Dr. Michael Delp, using rodent models to study how the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems respond to simulated microgravity, and what types of exercise interventions might prevent these changes. His specific area of research involved how intramuscular connective tissue adapted to microgravity, and how changes in the mechanical properties of muscle could potentially affect overall muscle performance. His work with NASA culminated in extensive involvement with a rodent experiment that was flown on the ill-fated Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Upon completion of his doctoral work, Todd began a postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in the department of Microbiology. His research focused on cell signaling mechanisms and the mechanical link between muscle cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Todd then briefly took a faculty position at East Stroudsburg University before moving to GWU in 2005. While at GW, Todd developed the master’s degree program in Strength & Conditioning, and currently serves as program director. In 2016 Dr. Miller opened the Weight Management and Human Performance Laboratory at GW’s Virginia Science & Technology Campus in Ashburn VA, and currently serves as the lab director. The goal of the lab is to explore the causes of and contributing factors to obesity and other metabolic disturbances.

Degrees: B.S. Exercise & Sport Science, Pennsylvania State University; Ph.D. Exercise Physiology, Texas A&M University
Research: Exercise Countermeasures, Musculoskeletal Wasting, Cardiac Function and Nutritional Interventions
Notable: Experiment flown on STS-107
Founder, The Miller Method
Veteran, United States Coast Guard; Deployment – Deep Freeze 1987
Featured on Dr. Oz in 2016
Email: todd.miller67@gmail.com

 

Margaret Scull, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, College Park

Dr. Scull has been studying viruses for almost 20 years. Her research program at the University of Maryland, College Park focuses on influenza virus and rhinoviruses – a group of pathogens that has a significant clinical impact in the human population, especially the very young, elderly, and those with underlying chronic lung disease. Her laboratory aims to identify and dissect novel virus-host interactions in the airway epithelium–the primary target for infection by respiratory viruses and also our first line of defense at the interface between the external environment and underlying tissues. She has a particular interest in the mucus barrier, epithelial cell type-specific antiviral function, and how innate barriers limit the host range of respiratory viruses. Her research is funded by the NIH and uses a variety of tools to address these questions, including microscopy, viral genetics, and in vitro primary cell model systems.

Degrees: B.S. (Biology), Duke University;
Ph.D. (Microbiology and Immunology), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Research: Airway Biology; Mucus Barrier; Respiratory Virus-host Interactions; Antiviral Response; Species Restriction of Viruses; Tissue Engineering and Primary Cell Systems
Notable: Dr. Scull has received a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Research Dissertation Award (2008); Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (2010); and Parker B. Francis Fellowship for Advancing Research in Pulmonary and Respiratory Disease (2016).
Email: scull@umd.edu

 

Daniel Serrano, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Senior Faculty Specialist, University of Maryland, College Park

Daniel is a biologist-turned-research-coordinator working at the University of Maryland to enhance the career path of future scientists. Under this goal, he coordinates three UMD programs: A Nanoscale Science and Technology fellows program, a Network Biology fellowship (COMBINE) and a Nonlinear Dynamics research program (TREND). Respectively, these programs cater to postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduate students through financial support, mentorship, and a variety of research-related and professional development opportunities. Daniel is involved in all of these facets for the three programs. he is also Program Director of the SSEP branch at UMD, Terps in Space.

More recently, Daniel has been working on an APS/NSF (American Physical Society/National Science Foundation)-sponsored outreach multimedia project to showcase the careers, hurdles, and successes of Hispanic/Latinx physicists across all stages of the career path: Rostros Físicos.

During his PhD work in Biology (with a Bioengineering PhD adviser), Daniel studied how cells and other objects in the bloodstream move to specific parts of the body and cross the blood-tissue barrier. Through a cellular and molecular understanding of these processes, he then explored different ways in which pharmaceutical delivery can be optimized using vehicles that mimic the way our body works.

Degrees: B.S. in Biochemistry, B.S. in Environmental Science (Plant Resources Concentration), M.S. in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (Cell Biology Concentration)
Notable: Daniel also helps put together videos (in English and Spanish) for UMD’s Lathrop Lab YouTube channel
Email: dsvolpe@umd.edu

 

Michelle Starz-Gaiano, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Dr. Starz-Gaiano and her research team investigate the genetic control of animal development. In particular, her studies focus on understanding how cells adopt different identities and move through complex environments. Cells have to migrate to fulfill their roles, but how do they know when and where to go? How do they crawl and climb through different tissues? The Starz-Gaiano group uses a wide array genetic tools developed in fruit flies to identify new molecules involved in these processes. Interestingly, many of the same genes that regulate development in flies are required in the development of other animals, including humans, so this work may also help us understand similar processes in people. More on her research can be found on the laboratory website (https://starzlab.umbc.edu/). Dr. Starz-Gaiano teaches cell biology and genetics courses, actively participates in the Society for Developmental Biologists (https://www.sdbonline.org/), and is involved in several initiatives to research and improve science and mathematics education at the undergraduate level, for example, the Nexus Institute for Quantitative Biology (https://niqb.umbc.edu/).

Degrees: B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.S. and Ph.D., New York University
Research: Genetic Regulation of Organ Development and Cell Migration, Janus Kinase and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) Molecular Signaling Pathway; Development and Immune Function in Humans
Notable: Dr. Starz-Gaiano serves as the Graduate Program Director for UMBC’s Biological Science Programs.
Email: starz@umbc.edu

 

Alex Theos, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Associate Professor, Department of Human Science, Georgetown University

Alex Theos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Science at Georgetown University, and has been involved with NCESSE since the SSEP Step 2 Review Board for Mission 1 to ISS. His father for many years worked as an engineer for the USAF and as a child growing up in the UK, Alex always dreamed of training to be an astronaut. After graduating from Cambridge University with a degree in Natural Sciences (Part II: Cell and Developmental Biology), Alex stayed in Cambridge as a graduate student in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry under the supervision of Dr. Margaret (Scottie) Robinson. In Scottie’s lab he was interested in the role of ubiquitously-expressed cytoplasmic AP-3 adaptor protein complexes in the biogenesis of specialized organelles. He focused on the melanosome, a lysosome-related organelle that is the intracellular site of synthesis and storage of mammalian melanin pigments. Partially albino human patients suffering from a sub-type of the autosomal-recessive multisystem disorder Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) carry mutations that result in non-functional AP-3 complexes. After receiving his doctorate in 2002, Alex left the UK for a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His postdoctoral research, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Marks, built upon his graduate experience of the pigment cell system focusing on the intracellular membrane trafficking pathways followed by melanocyte-specific integral membrane protein cargoes including tyrosinase and Pmel17. Before joining the faculty at Georgetown as Assistant Professor of Human Science in 2007, he spent a year as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Swarthmore College in the Department of Biology. It was his time at Swarthmore that led him to seek out an academic environment that would focus on undergraduate education and the immersion of undergraduate student trainees in his research (Please visit: https://nhs.georgetown.edu/about/human-science-department/ and https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/act45/).

Degrees: B.A. Honors Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge, 1997; Ph.D. Cell Biology (Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Cambridge) 2002
Research: Cell Biology, Lysosome-Related Organelles, GPNMB, Membrane Trafficking
Notable: In 2016, Alex’s son Chris was diagnosed with a CRMO (Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis). Along with other motivated parents of children with this poorly understood rare disease, he and his wife Sarah helped set up the CRMO Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with CRMO. He currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer for the Foundation, which was selected by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to be part of the first cohort of patient-led rare disease non-profits to be in the Rare as One Network. Please visit: https://crmofoundation.org/ and https://chanzuckerberg.com/science/programs-resources/rare-as-one/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-theos-5b55541a
Email: alex.theos@georgetown.edu

 

Kol Zarember, Ph.D.
Adjunct Staff Member, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Staff Scientist, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Dr. Zarember’s laboratory work focuses on the roles of neutrophils in host defenses against infectious diseases and in the regulation of inflammation. In addition, Dr. Zarember serves as the Scientific Operations Manager for a large laboratory active in clinical and basic science research on immunology and infectious diseases.

Degrees: Ph.D., New York University School of Medicine
Research: Neutrophil, Innate Immunity, Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Immunology
Email: kol.zarember@gmail.com

 

Our NASA MESSENGER Educator Fellows

Amy Bartlett (Arizona)
Amy Bartlett currently teaches 9th grade Integrated Science at Raymond S. Kellis High School in the Peoria Unified School District. She has devoted the last 14 years to inspiring students with STEM experiences, instilling a love of learning, and passing on her passion for space science. In addition to teaching, advising, and coaching, she also had the privilege of attending Honeywell’s Space Academy and Advanced Space Academy for Educators at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. She was greatly honored to have been selected to participate and was also a proud recipient of the prestigious Right Stuff Award. She has facilitated the Mars Student Imaging Project and led student groups to Arizona State University to deliver their MSIP proposals to professors and graduate students. At the Challenger Space Center, she has worked as a flight director and teacher liaison as well as annually led her students on educational simulated missions. Amy has escorted many student groups to Hawaii on an Earth Science tour to allow them to experience the curriculum first hand. As a MESSENGER Educator Fellow, she is excited to bring Mercury and space exploration one step closer to students and educators.

Email: abartlett@peoriaud.k12.az.us

 

 

Aileen Ortega Canos (Guam)
Aileen Ortega Canos is an 8th Grade Science Teacher at FB Leon Guerrero Middle School located in Yigo, Guam. She has been a teacher for 14 years and has earned her Double Master’s Degree in Education in the areas of Administration and Supervision and Secondary Education. Aileen is also a 2005 Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Most recently, in 2009, she attained National Board Certification in Early Adolescence Science. Aileen always seeks opportunities where she can develop herself as a teacher and as a learner. Because of her dedication to teaching science and learning about space, she participated in several NASA workshops – NEW (NASA Education Workshop at Ames Research Center, URCEP Urban and Rural Community Enrichment Program and MND My NASA Data at Langley Research Center). Aileen is very excited to serve as a NASA MESSENGER Educator Fellow. As a MESSENGER Educator Fellow, she hopes to spark the interest of space science in students and teachers on Guam and in the Pacific Region.

Email: science8a@gmail.com

 

 

Brenda Conway (Virginia)
I am an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher for Spotsylvania County Schools in Virginia. I earned my Masters from Virginia Commonwealth University through a grant provided by the National Science Foundation. My passion for inquiry, challenges, and space has taken me to Space Camp as a Honeywell Educator at NASA Space Academy, on the Weightless Flight of Discovery Zero G Flight program funded by Northrup Grumman and as an Educator Fellow for the MESSENGER Mission to Mercury. My hobbies include stargazing, rebuilding my Œ61 Buick and triathlon training.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ConwayMESSENGER
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brconway
Email: brenda.conway2@gmail.com

 

 

Dr. Christina Dorr (Ohio)
Besides being privileged enough to be a MESSENGER Educator Fellow, I am in my 19^th year as a media specialist, presently with Hilliard City School District, Hilliard, Ohio. In that capacity I get to teach a wide range of ages of children, and a wide range of subject matters, including technology, research, literacy, and content areas. I serve on building and district committees and initiatives, and try to make as wide an impact on education as possible. My Ph.D. from the Ohio State University has allowed me several teaching opportunities at local universities part-time, and to become a speaker for the American Library Association. I keep active with local, state, and national organizations and write for their publications. Most recently I earned National Board Teacher Certification in November 2008. Spare time activities include reading, traveling, and spending time with my family. Columbus, Ohio, is home for me and my family.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CHD2009
Email: Christina_Dorr@hboe.org

 

 

Alice A. (Alex) Eilers (Tennessee)
Alice A. (Alex) Eilers is the Manager of Education at the Pink Palace Museum, located in Memphis, TN. She has worked in informal education for more than 15 years. Ms. Eilers received her Master degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Memphis and her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS. Alex has worked as a MESSENGER Educator Fellow since the program’s inception in 2003 and regularly presents at local and regional educator workshops. She was a 2008 NOAA Teachers at Sea participant, and was a member of the 2009 and 2010 NOAA Teacher at Sea review committee. Ms. Eilers was the 2008 runner up for “Most Excellent Educator” in the Memphis Most issue of the Commercial Appeal. She was also selected as one of the “50 Women Who Make a Difference” – Memphis Woman magazine ­ 2008 and a “Woman to Watch” in Memphis Minority Business Magazine ­ 2009.

Email: Alice.Eilers@memphistn.gov

 

 

Carol Fraser (Pennsylvania)
Carol is a fourth grade math and science teacher in the Highlands School District, grade level chairperson, and the teacher leader for the new Highlands Planetarium. She designed the curriculum for and will teach the first summer science camp to be held in 2010, recently did planetarium shows at Penn State for the NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Exploration Day, does monthly star parties, and helps Boy Scouts earn their astronomy badges. She graduated from Slippery Rock University, as did her daughter Lindsay, son-in-law Brandon Himes, and where son Andrew is currently studying. Her family also includes youngest son Alex, who is a fantastic assistant with the planetarium, and husband Milt.

Web site: http://highlandsplanetarium.wikispaces.com
Email: carjfraser@comcast.net

 

 

Debra Gallagher, EdD (Ohio)
Debra Gallagher is an Assistant Professor of Education at Ohio Northern University. She is finishing her 32nd year of teaching and still loving every minute of it. Debra has been a MESSENGER Fellow since 2008. She believes that all students can learn and science must be hands-on. She has done numerous presentations at state and national conferences. Debra received the 2009 Friend of Science Award from the Science Education Council of Ohio. She especially enjoys sharing her love of science and math with the many pre-service teachers she teaches.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1501032363
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dkgallag
Wiki: http://drdebg.pbwiki.com
Email: d-gallagher.2@onu.edu

 

 

 

(Dolores) Lollie Garay (Texas)
Lollie Garay holds a Master of Science Teaching from Rice University, Houston TX. She has been a classroom teacher for 37 years and teaches Integrated Earth/Space Middle School Science at Redd School in Houston, Texas. Her educational mission is to get students and teachers excited about learning! Lollie has authored numerous original activities for classroom use and develops on-going After-school, Family, and Community Science programs. She is a presenter on the local, state, and national levels, and serves on numerous educational outreach committees. Lollie has been a member of the MESSENGER Mission to Mercury Educator Fellowship Program since 2004. In 2007 Lollie was chosen as an IPY/ PolarTREC Teacher and spent seven weeks in the Antarctic Seas working with an international U.S./Swedish scientific team doing oceanographic studies. She is currently working with researcher Dr. Tish Yager (UGA) on a proposed joint global oceans study that will translate Dr. Yagers work into a middle school curriculum on carbon sequestration. Lollie is married to Dr. Reynaldo Garay, Dean of Student Development at Houston Community College and has two grown children.

Email: lgsciencelab@gmail.com

 

Jane Gilbride (New York)
Jane Gilbride is a science teacher at Starpoint High School in Lockport, New York and an educational Fellow to the NASA MESSENGER mission to Mercury. She received her Master of Science Education at the State University of New York College at Buffalo and her Bachelor of Science at St. Bonaventure University. Science initiatives led by Mrs. Gilbride include collaboration with Nobel Laureate Dr. Herbert Hauptman in the design of a math and science courtyard at Starpoint High School. The courtyard houses the Hauptman Crystal Garden, an installation of a tetrahedron, dodecahedron, icosahedron, cube and octahedron sculptures. For this work and her teaching, Mrs. Gilbride was awarded the American Chemical Society of WNY Distinguished High School Science Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Gilbride leads the Starpoint Astronomy club and has been the recipient of numerous innovative educational grants. Jane Gilbride enthusiastically teaches science and spreads the word of the MESSENGER mission at NSTA conferences, state conferences, local schools and workshops at local colleges and universities. When she is not “doing” science she is busy skiing with her husband Terry and their kids Mary, Maggie and Connor or hiking with their Old English Sheep dog.

Email: JGilbride@starpointcsd.org

 

 

Gene Gordon (New York)
I am a veteran teacher of 23 years. National Board certified in Physics, I have been teaching in Fairport NY for 13 years. I graduated (twice!) from Alfred University and have actively pursued my dream of sharing my life-long love for space and astronomy with any student or adult who would listen. Proud geek that I am, becoming a MESSENGER Fellow was a dream come true for me. Recently I was awarded the Excellence in Teaching award from the Science Teachers Association of New York State and was elected as the Director at Large for Physics to the Association. I live in Honeoye Falls NY.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/porchdragon
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/genegordon
Email: physics@rochester.rr.com

 

 

Louisa Hodges (Louisiana)
I received my BS in Biology from Grambling State University and my MA from the University of Phoenix in Elementary Education. I am currently teaching 4th and 5th grade science at Bethany Christian School. I also act as a technology advisor to the teachers. I have just been awarded the PBS Innovative Teacher Award for demonstrating the use of innovative teaching strategies in the classroom. My philosophy of teaching begins with the principle that all students are able to learn if instruction has been presented in the proper manner. I am an advocate of differentiated learning and inquiry based instruction in the classroom. I believe that both of these concepts allow teachers the flexibility to teach students effectively based on their learning style.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lhodges01
Email: LouisaHodges@cox.net

 

 

Annette Iwamoto (California)
Annette is in her 31st year of teaching at Searles Elementary School in Union City, California. In addition to her classroom assignment, fourth and fifth grade, she serves as a Beginning Teacher Specialist mentoring and training first and second year teachers. In her classroom and in workshops she presents, Annette integrates and weaves the Language Arts Standards into the hands-on science lessons. Her goal is to inspire students and teachers alike to embrace the love of science through discovery, exploration and creativity. Annette is a National Board Certified teacher and a past finalist for California Teacher of the Year.

 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aniwam
Email: annette_iwamoto@nhusd.k12.ca.us

 

 

 

 

Sally Jensen (New Hampshire)
I am currently teaching middle school students at Waterville Valley Academy, in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. There is a new pilot middle school program that will be starting this winter season, and I have the honor of being the director of this endeavor. I am also attending Plymouth State University, part time, to design a second masters in science and music. I consider myself a life time learner. I love space exploration and the universe. Everything and everyone has a connection with the various systems that function within our environment. We need to teach with that in mind. Earth is a very special planet in a very precise orbit, so neat stuff can all happen. It is really fun to keep learning.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cosmicfrog
Email: sajean@roadrunner.com

 

 

 

Chad Johnson (Nebraska)
Chad is an education specialist for Nebraska Public Power District and a certified elementary teacher. After several years in the classroom, a few years at a hands-on science center and a couple of years as a stay-at-home dad, Chad currently travels the state of Nebraska presenting hands-on lessons on electrical safety, energy education and, of course, NASA MESSENGER programs. Chad received the 2005 Association of Science and Technology Centers Roy L. Schafer Leading Edge Award for New Leadership in the Field for innovative science education programming.

Email: chad@1BenAnna.com

 

 

 

 

Cynthia Keeling (West Virginia)
Cynthia Keeling holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Fairmont State College and a Masters of Arts degree and Reading Specialization from Baldwin Wallace College. She also holds a specialization in gifted education from West Virginia University and a Educational Leadership degree from Salem International University. Cynthia has 32 years of teaching experience in kindergarten through eighth grades in Ohio and West Virginia. Cynthia was the 2000 Presidential Awardee for Elementary Science Teaching for the state of West Virginia. Cynthia has presented across the United States at conference and workshops for service and pre-service teachers. She is also the Solar System Educator for the State of West Virginia, as well as a New Horizon and MESSENGER Fellow. Cynthia serves as the SEPA (Science Elementary Presidential Awardee) representative for the state of West Virginia. Cynthia is currently the Dean of Students at Rivesville Elementary/Middle School.

Email: cynthiasue@ma.rr.com

 

Stefanie Long (Illinois)
I am currently working as a consultant at Two Rivers Professional Development Center in Central Illinois coaching math and science teachers in the Standards Aligned Curriculum strategies. I taught high school math for 13 years and look forward to going back into the classroom in a few years. I love sharing the excitement of space with in-service teachers as well as aspiring teachers. I look forward to working with anyone interested in bringing space alive in their classroom!

Email: steflong@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

Carol Lee Lutsinger (Texas)
Being part of the MESSENGER outreach has been an exciting and rewarding experience. Sharing the program with teachers in South Texas as well as from across the state has been rewarding. The fact that NASA designates a percentage of its missions to fund teacher professional development has enabled me to be a part of something larger than I ever expected. In addition to the privilege of serving as a MESSENGER, I am a Solar System Educator, as well. I spend my “spare time” sharing space missions and astronomy at our local libraries twice a month through a program I call Astronomy 101. I also share the information via a weekly newspaper column that I have been writing for more than 13 years, grocery store parking lots, and on drives back home from presentations “up the Valley”. If you are ever accosted at a local burger place by an excited older woman urging you to “come outside and look … in the sky”, it might be me! Spending my time sharing ‘space’ is the best way I can think of because it touches everyone of all ages for a lifetime. My current professional role is as a classroom teacher for the Brownsville ISD on the Texas border with Mexico. International flavor blends all that we do here. Vengan y vean las planetas y las estrellas con nosotros.

Email: carolutsinger@att.net

 

Susie Miller (North Carolina)
I live in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where I have been teaching for 32 years. I have a MA in Elementary Education and I am National Board Certified (NBPTS). I am currently teaching 3rd grade at Sparta Elementary. I have taught grades 1 through 6 and I love sharing MESSENGER and science with students and colleagues. I am also a trainer for NC Teacher Academy is several modules that focus on enhancing education across North Carolina.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/messengersusie
Wiki: http://messengersusie.pbwiki.com
Email: susie.mrsmiller@gmail.com

 

 

 

Annette Pearson (Georgia)
Annette Pearson has been teaching middle grades Science for the last thirteen years in the Paulding County Schools outside the city of Atlanta. She loves helping her gifted students investigate the wonders of Earth and Physical Science. In her classroom, students are scientists, uncovering the concepts of the state standards and forming their own understanding. One of her greatest rewards is to motivate and train other teachers to engage students with an inquiry approach. As part of an MSP grant, she has been able to inspire others at conferences, both state and national, to implement an inquiry approach in their own Science classrooms. Participating in Northrop Grumman’s Zero G “Flight of Discovery” was one the personal highlights of her teaching career.

Email: annettepearson1.0@gmail.com

 

 

Rick Peck (Virginia)
Rick Peck currently teaches 6th grade science at Seneca Ridge Middle School in Sterling, Virginia, where he has been teaching since 1999. Prior to that, he had a career in business, which included being a partner of a major accounting firm in Washington, D.C. and the chief financial officer of a publishing firm in Springfield, Virginia. He is a graduate of Amherst College, the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, and Shenandoah University. Passionate about space and the natural world, he believes that spreading an infectious enthusiasm about the concepts and particulars is important for students of all ages to become lifelong learners. He is active in efforts to bring a 134 million:1 scale model solar system to Loudoun County, to include a unique model of the Sun, with active features to replicate actions of the Sun.

Email: Jerome.Peck@lcps.org

 

 

Jean Pelezo (North Carolina)
My excitement for science began during my student teaching when the 3rd graders made faux seashell fossils. They were so proud of their accomplishments; they described the process of making them and showed them off to everyone. It’s hard to believe that was 21 years ago. My “teachable moment” from that experience is that we need to bring these experiences into our classrooms. As a current K-5 Science Lab teacher at the Morgantown Road Elementary school in Fayetteville, NC, my goal is to provide as many real-world applications to my students as possible. As a MESSENGER Educator Fellow, I believe that many students and colleagues will benefit from the knowledge that I will obtain through these NASA experiences.

Email: spelezo@nc.rr.com

 

 

Robert Petro (Pennsylvania)
I teach 7th and 8th Grade Accelerated Science in Exeter Township, Pennsylvania. I am a certified Earth and Space Science and Social Studies teacher and hold a Master’s Degree in Secondary and Professional Education from East Stroudsburg University. I am currently working toward a second Master’s Degree in Earth and Space Science. In 2008 I received a Honeywell scholarship to attend Teacher Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. My love of space started when I watched the first shuttle launch on television, and I enjoy sharing my passion for space exploration and the solar system with others. I believe students learn science best when they can experience the results first hand through activities that bring science to life.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Rob-Petro-Messenger/100001101619709
Email: robpetro.messenger@gmail.com

 

 

Sandra Russell (New York)
Sandra teaches Earth Science and Biology in grades 9-12 at Starpoint High School in Lockport, NY. Her 40+ years of teaching experience include teaching at grade levels from kindergarten to college. She holds two Master’s degrees as well as permanent teaching certification in Earth Science, Biology, Mathematics, General Science, Elementary Education, and Physical Education. In addition to teaching students, Sandra has extensive experience in training other teachers. She is a MESSENGER Educator Fellow and a field trainer for GLOBE. She is also an educational consultant for the New York State Education Department as an item writer and a participant on the range-finding and editing committees. She has presented at numerous national, state, and regional conferences. Her basic philosophy in teaching science is getting across the idea that science is exciting. There is a great, big world and universe out there, and she believes in taking her students and fellow teachers out to personally discover it! She believes that students are more successful at learning by doing through hands-on experiences. It is also more fun for everyone involved including the teacher herself!

Email: srussell@starpointcsd.org

 

 

Deb Salberg (Minnesota)
I teach at J.A. Hughes Elementary, which is a small public school in northwestern Minnesota. I have been teaching for 38 years and earned my Master of Science in elementary and gifted education from MN State University, Moorhead. In 2008, I was selected as a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. One of the best parts of teaching for me is learning with my students. A group of teachers from my school partnered with The Nature Conservancy’s Glacial Ridge Project to monitor the restoration of prairie/wetlands for change over time and the impact these changes have on flood control in the Red River Valley of the North. You can see a 6-minute documentary on our project at Edutopia. Besides my classroom work, I am a member of the MN Science Quality Teaching Network, Teachers as Learners and Leaders, and MN Science Teachers board. I am very excited about being a MESSENGER Educator Fellow and the opportunity this gives me to share quality education modules with groups of teachers. My husband, Dale, is a retired school superintendent. We have two grown children, Ryan and Lori, and a granddaughter, London.

Email: debsalberg@yahoo.com

 

Anita Salinas (Alabama)
I teach environmental science and earth and space science at Murphy High School in Mobile, Alabama. I also work closely with Mobile County Public School’s environmental studies center, which maintains a portable planetarium for space studies. Not only does the environmental studies center host field experiences for children, they also train educators to use a variety of resources in their classrooms. The best student learning takes place when students can get out of their books and seats and experience the science we are sharing with them.

Email: red-tail@hotmail.com

 

 

 

Kris Swanson (Florida)
Kris Swanson is the Planetarium Resource Teacher at Poinciana Math/Science/Technology Magnet School in Boynton Beach Florida. He has been an educator in Palm Beach County for 16 years as a 5th grade classroom teacher, a science lab teacher, and a district technology specialist. He has a Masters of Arts in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University. Kris has been passionate about sharing his love for astronomy since childhood when he would coax family members up onto the roof of his backyard shed to look through his first telescope. He learned to operate the planetarium projector and observatory at the South Florida Science Museum as a 14 year old volunteer, and worked on the education staff at MOSI in Tampa while an undergraduate at the University of South Florida. His professional career has centered around sharing his love of science with students and other teachers.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/krswan
Web site: http://www.mrswanson.org
Email: kris@mrswanson.org

 

 

Nancy Tashima (Hawaii)
Nancy Tashima had the pleasure of teaching physical science and aerospace studies for 22 years at Konawaena High School on the Big Island of Hawaii. For the past 19 years she has been a science resource teacher and curator of the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center where her duties include development of its education and outreach programs. The learning center uses the theme of aerospace education to further the inspirational legacy of the Hawaii-born Challenger astronaut Ellison Onizuka, while engaging its visitors with scientific exhibits and unique interactive displays. Nancy is married to retired science teacher, James; they have two daughters and a granddaughter. Her favorite pastime is to collect and develop space-related items to teach students about the excitement of the cosmos! Nancy looks forward to the honor of sharing the excitement of the MESSENGER mission with teachers and their students in Hawaii and beyond!

Email: tashima@aloha.net

 

 

Julie Taylor (California)
Julie Taylor taught in the Adelanto School District in California for 37 years. She retired in 2007, but has continued to be a 2nd/3rd grade math tutor for four Adelanto schools and the NASA/science advisor for Columbia Middle School, a NASA Explorer School. She also serves the science educational community as an educational consultant for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, and for the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, MD. She is currently a MESSENGER Educator Fellow, Solar System Educator, and a Heliophysics Ambassador. She has amassed many awards over the years, including being selected as the Presidential Awardee for Elementary Science in 2001, becoming a National Board Certified Teacher in 2002,and receiving NSTA’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Middle School in 2007. She continues her work to provide the youth of the world with inspirational avenues to learn science.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/julietaylorca
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1072246932
Email: julie_taylor@eee.org

 

 

Pamela Whiffen (Arizona)
For the last 18 years, Pamela Whiffen has been a Gifted Specialist and Curriculum Designer. She has also been deeply involved in a wide range of NASA’s national education and public outreach programs. These include: conducting teacher professional development as a NASA Educator Ambassador, a MESSENGER Educator Fellow, a Heliophysics Ambassador, a GRACE Fellow, and a Beyond the Solar System Fellow for the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; serving as a presenter for the National Science Digital Library; and conducting presentations as a Solar System Ambassador, and as a National Space Biomedical Research Institute Fellow. She has delivered presentations at local, state, regional, national, and international venues. At the local level in Arizona, she was the academic lead for a multi-year NSF/WEA grant funded program aimed specifically at increasing the involvement of girls and underrepresented minorities in math and science. She is also the Southwestern Regional Director for the National Earth Science Teachers Association. Pamela has multiple undergraduate degrees, a Masters in Secondary Education with an emphasis on science education, and a passion for sharing the wonders of space science. She is currently a Gifted Science Specialist for the Scottsdale Unified School District and teaches at Mohave and Supai Middle Schools.

Email: pwpwr@aol.com

 

Cathy Williamson (Louisiana)
I am the Education Coordinator at Sci-Port Louisiana Science Museum in Shreveport, Louisiana. I am responsible for educational programming, teacher professional development, and educational outreach at our hands-on science museum. We serve northwest Texas, southwest and central Arkansas and all of Louisiana. I have taught in the classroom for 27 years and been at Sci-Port nine years. I love science and especially space science.

Email: cwilliamson@sciport.org