DoD STEM Ambassadors

Meet DoD STEM Ambassadors from STEM Ecosystems Across the Country

The DoD STEM Ambassador Program 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.

Jonté Lee, a chemistry teacher and DoD STEM Ambassador from the 2020-2021 school year.

DoD STEM Ambassadors & Partner Organizations

2023-2024 School Year


Allison Bogart

Middle School Science Teacher, California

Partner Organization: RoboNation


Amber Struthers

High School Biotechnology Teacher, Arizona

Partner Organization: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering


Belynda Songer

High School Science Teacher, Georgia

Partner Organization: Air Force STEM


Carla Neely

Middle and High School Science and Computer Science Teacher, Ohio

Partner Organization: Learning Undefeated


Christopher Ray

Middle School Mathematics Teacher, California

Partner Organization: University of California, San Diego Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment & Teaching Excellence


Courtney Heikkila

Middle School Mathematics Teacher, North Carolina

Partner Organization: MATHCOUNTS


Cyrus Sadeghian

College Professor of Biology, Maryland

Partner Organization: Prince George’s Community College


Darin Gray

College Professor of Engineering, California

Partner Organization: National Center for Women & Information Technology


David Tomko

Elementary School Reading, Writing, and Robotics Coach, Pennsylvania

Partner Organization: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology


Douglas Glenn

High School Biology Teacher, Alabama

Partner Organization: Missile Defense Agency


Eric Botello

High School Physics Teacher, Texas

Partner Organization: National Math & Science Initiative


Gretchen Greer

High School CTE Teacher, New Mexico

Partner Organization: The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation


Javier Uribe

District STEM Coordinator, Texas

Partner Organization: Alamo STEM Ecosystem


Jesse Robinson

High School Biology and Biotechnology Teacher, California

Partner Organization: San Diego Miramar College


Jessica Minton

High School Science Teacher, Tennessee

Partner Organization: Defense Threat Reduction Agency


Josephine Mesina

High School Science Teacher, Maryland

Partner Organization: Bowie State University


Julio Avasan

High School Engineering Teacher, Calfornia

Partner Organization: Naval STEM


Karen McGuinness

Instructional Coach, Arizona

Partner Organization: Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College


Lora Gibbons

Middle School Science Teacher, Utah

Partner Organization: Army Educational Outreach Program


Melvin Stallings

Middle School Science Teacher, District of Columbia

Partner Organization: Morgan State University's Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education


Micki Harris

College Professor of Journalism, Georgia

Partner Organization: Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM


Nicole Rosen

Research Coordinator, Maryland

Partner Organization: Society for Science


Randolph Kolset

District Educational Technology Coordinator, California

Partner Organization: TGR Foundation, A Tiger Woods Charity


Sarah Finch

College Professor of Biology and Biotechnology, Ohio

Partner Organization: Sinclair Community College


Thanh Le

High School Computer Science Teacher, California

Partner Organization: Center for Excellence in Education


Thomas Jenkins

Middle School Science Teacher, Ohio

Partner Organization: Dayton Regional STEM Center

Meet More DoD STEM Ambassadors

School Year

High School Math Teacher, California

Hunter Alzate

College Professor, St. Petersburg College, Florida

Brian Bell

Middle School Science Teacher, California

Beverly Berekian

High School Science Teacher, Maryland

Carlise Bethel

Elementary and Middle School Math and Science Teacher, California

Jessica Bibbs-Fox

Elementary School Math Teacher, Ohio

Tim Carey

High School Chemistry Teacher, Virginia

Kari Espada

Middle School Science Teacher, District of Columbia

Rabiah Harris

Technology Integration Specialist, Maryland

Victoria Lyons

Advanced Learning Coordinator, Virginia

Lisa Manning-Lewis

STEM Specialist, Florida

Amy Monahan

STEM Research Coordinator, New Mexico

Jennifer Nilvo

Middle School Math Teacher, Florida

Chantelle Normand

Middle School Math, Science, and Engineering Teacher, Arizona

Mayra Ramos Angress

High School Engineering and Computer Science Teacher, District of Columbia

Michelle Rene Ming

Advanced Learning Coordinator, Maryland

Crystal Ricks

High School STEM Teacher, Kapaun Air Station, Germany

Ken Robinson

College Professor, Prince George's Community College', Maryland

Veronica Seward

College Professor, Louisiana State University of Alexandria, Louisiana

David Shanks

DoDEA Project Director, Colorado

Nathaniel Sobin

High School Physics Teacher, Texas

Jonathon Stancek

AP Environmental Science Teacher, Ohio

Amanda Taylor

Ambassadors in the Blog

Where's My Champion? The Importance of Mentors Who Look Like Their Students

“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.”

Antia Thomas
Middle School Science Teacher, North Carolina

Featured Blog Post

Where’s My Champion?
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.

Continue Reading Blog Post

More Blog Posts

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