Advisory Council
Our Advisory Council members are a dedicated team of educators and STEM professionals passionate about increasing access to quality space education for all students!
The Industry Advisory Council advises on engaging industry and government partners and on integrating real-world content for authentic, rigorous, and inspirational STEM experiences for K-12 students.
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The Educator Advisory Council advises on engaging education partners, especially targeting underserved populations, and implements strategies to empower educators to provide transformational STEM experiences for students.
Cathy Ahmed, M.S.
STEM Teacher at iPrep Academy in Miami, Florida
B.S. in Education, M.S. Educational/Instructional Technology
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Brittany Culjan
K-8 STEM Teacher at Waltham Elementary in Utica, Il
B.S. in Elementary Education
Lauren Kelly, M.Ed
STEM and Gifted & Talented Specialist at Oakmont Elementary in Crowley, Texas
B.S. in Early Childhood Education, M.Ed in Educational Leadership
Claire Meschkat, M. Ed.
Co-Founder & STEM Specialist at Vivify
STEM Coordinator at Open Door in Graham, Texas
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, M.Ed. in Creativity & Cognition
Bryan Murphy, M.S.
Associate Chief Engineer for ISS Program and Space Exploration at The Boeing Company & Vice President for Creatorspace in Houston, Texas
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Taylor K. Nugent
Chair of Industry Council
Research Associate for Asteroid Threat Assessment Project at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California
B.A. in Art History and Religious Studies, M.A. in Art History & Visual Culture, M.S. in Aviation & Aerospace Sustainability: Space Operations
Melissa Oberdorf, M.Ed
Chair of Educator Council
5th-grade STEM teacher at Big Spring School District in Newville, Pennsylvania
B.S. in Elementary & Special Education, M.Ed. in Assessment, Curriculum & Teaching
Justin Wilkerson, Ph.D
Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at
Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
Michelle Bogden, M.S.
STEM Education Specialist with Crown Consulting at NASA in Cleveland, Ohio
B.S. in Secondary Education & Teaching, M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction
Trudi Hoogenboom, Ph.D
Planetary Scientist & Director of Earth and Space Sciences at Astra Nova School
B.S. in Geophysics, Ph.D. in Planetary Science
Shane McFarland, M.S.
Space Suit Technology Development Strategy Lead at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, B.S. in Physics, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering
Kelly Miller, Ph.D.
Lead Scientist in Space Science at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas
B.A. in Chemistry, Ph.D. in Planetary Science
Missy Northington
STEM Program Coordinator at Communities In Schools of San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas
B.S. in Education
Patrick Ream
Aerospace Engineer & Ground Controller Operator at
NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
Sarah Poor, M.Ed.
Graduate Researcher in Science Education at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas
B.S. in Physics, M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction