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.
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
Hunter Alzate
High School Math Teacher, California

Brian Bell
College Professor, St. Petersburg College, Florida

Beverly Berekian
Middle School Science Teacher, California

Carlise Bethel
High School Science Teacher, Maryland

Jessica Bibbs-Fox
Elementary and Middle School Math and Science Teacher, California

Tim Carey
Elementary School Math Teacher, Ohio

Kari Espada
High School Chemistry Teacher, Virginia

Rabiah Harris
Middle School Science Teacher, District of Columbia

Victoria Lyons
Technology Integration Specialist, Maryland

Lisa Manning-Lewis
Advanced Learning Coordinator, Virginia

Amy Monahan
STEM Specialist, Florida

Jennifer Nilvo
STEM Research Coordinator, New Mexico

Chantelle Normand
Middle School Math Teacher, Florida

Mayra Ramos Angress
Middle School Math, Science, and Engineering Teacher, Arizona

Michelle Rene Ming
High School Engineering and Computer Science Teacher, District of Columbia

Crystal Ricks
Advanced Learning Coordinator, Maryland

Ken Robinson
High School STEM Teacher, Kapaun Air Station, Germany

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

David Shanks
College Professor, Louisiana State University of Alexandria, Louisiana

Nathaniel Sobin
DoDEA Project Director, Colorado

Jonathon Stancek
High School Physics Teacher, Texas

Amanda Taylor
AP Environmental 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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