Meet DoD STEM Ambassadors from STEM Ecosystems Across the Country
The DoD STEM Ambassador Program, managed by TGR Foundation, recognizes outstanding educators and promotes STEM learning across the nation. DoD STEM Ambassadors are carefully chosen by the Department of Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) and DoD STEM based on their commitment to working with students who have been historically underrepresented in STEM and/or are military connected.
DoD STEM Ambassadors work together to create and curate remote learning and digital materials such as lesson plans, learning activities, and creative engagement approaches to be shared with educators.
DoD STEM Ambassadors & Partner Organizations
Allison Bogart
Middle School Science Teacher, California
Amber Struthers
High School Biotechnology Teacher, Arizona
Belynda Songer
High School Science Teacher, Georgia
Carla Neely
Middle and High School Science and Computer Science Teacher, Ohio
Christopher Ray
Middle School Mathematics Teacher, California
Courtney Heikkila
Middle School Mathematics Teacher, North Carolina
Cyrus Sadeghian
College Professor of Biology, Maryland
Darin Gray
STEM Outreach Director and Engineering Instructor, California
David Tomko
Elementary School Reading, Writing, and Robotics Coach, Pennsylvania
Douglas Glenn
High School Biology and Biotechnology Teacher, Alabama
Eric Botello
High School Physics Teacher, Texas
Gretchen Greer
High School CTE Teacher, New Mexico
Javier Uribe
District STEM Coordinator, Texas
Jesse Robinson
High School Biology and Biotechnology Teacher, California
Jessica Minton
High School Science Teacher, Tennessee
Josephine Mesina
High School Science Teacher, Maryland
Julio Avasan
High School Engineering Teacher, California
Karen McGuinness
Instructional Coach, Arizona
Lora Gibbons
Middle School Science Teacher, Utah
Melvin Stallings
Middle School Science Teacher, District of Columbia
Mikki Harris
College Professor of Journalism, Georgia
Nicole Rosen
Research Coordinator, Maryland
Randy Kolset
District Educational Technology Coordinator, California
Sarah Finch
College Professor of Biology and Biotechnology, Ohio
Thanh Le
High School Computer Science Teacher, California
Thomas Jenkins
Middle School Science Teacher, Ohio
Ambassadors in the Blog
“When students are exposed to different backgrounds, points of view and cultures they become more open-minded and willing to work with others. Never underestimate the power of a person seeing themselves in the experiences of another person.”
Middle School Science Teacher, North Carolina
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The Importance of Mentors Who Look Like Their Students
Citizen Schools’ Catalyst program pairs mentors from diverse backgrounds with students to engage in meaningful real-world, problem-based projects that bridge gaps in education so that all students can succeed. In order to imagine themselves pursuing a career in STEM, students need to have authentic experiences, see diversity in their classrooms and be exposed to STEM career pathways.
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