Meet our Team

Shana has 16 years of  STEM field and education experience. She started her career in pharmacy and pivoted to serving as a public high school teacher and leader. During that time she focused on advancing STEM content engagement and improving outcomes for marginalized students. Shana joins Project Scientist following her service and leadership in teacher education at the university level. She served as a STEM Teacher Mentor, University Supervisor, Professor, and Noyce faculty member, educating Science and Math Teachers on equity strategies and creating research-based content. She earned an undergraduate degree in Biology from Purdue University and a Master of Science degree in Education from Northwestern University. Shana is pursuing a Doctorate in Education at the University of Illinois. Her research interests include diversity & equity in education and culturally responsive STEM education. Shana aims to increase representation in STEM for women and girls, especially Black, Indigenous, and other Women of Color. Shana most values spending time with her three children and husband. Her favorite woman in STEM is Jewel Plummer Cobb, for her contributions to cancer research as a biologist. Shana also appreciates Dr. Cobb’s accomplishments as a University Leader who advocated for including women and minorities in science.

Kierstin holds a B.S. in Physiology and Neuroscience with a minor in Education Studies from U.C. San Diego. Kierstin joined the staff of Project Scientist because she’s seen firsthand how life-changing STEM role models can be to young women. For the past several years, she has helped Project Scientist in creating an enriching and exciting STEM environment for all of its programs including STEM Club, STEM Lab, and Scholars. Not only does Kierstin manage Project Scientist programs, she also teaches in them from time to time. She enjoys interacting with students and helping them to learn new knowledge and skills. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog Maggie and reading historical fiction novels. Kierstin's favorite woman in STEM is animal physiologist and NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir.

Jacki Lane is passionate about STEM education and believes that every child is born a scientist, filled with curiosity and a desire to learn.  With over 15 years of experience in STEM and education, Jacki has worked with a wide range of children from age two through 4th grade. She has served as an educator, STEM facilitator, teacher mentor, curriculum director, and assistant principal. Jacki earned her B.A. in Early Childhood Education and Reading from Ohio University, and holds her M.Ed in Gifted Education from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Jacki also minored in Spanish as she is passionate about global education and empowering diverse students to pursue their dreams in STEM. Jacki’s favorite woman in STEM is engineer, physician, and NASA astronaut MaeJemison as she is not only an inspiring scientist, but also works to support youth in STEM education.

Autumn Keck believes a child’s course in life should be determined not by the zip code she’s born in, but by the strength of her work ethic and the scope of her dreams.  With over 20 years of experience as a fundraiser specializing in grant management and major gift solicitation, Autumn has made an impact by connecting nonprofits to the philanthropic community. She holds a B. A. in Communications and a minor in Journalism from North Carolina State University.  Autumn’s favorite woman in STEM is NASA research mathematician Katherine Johnson because of her tenacity and critical role in the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights.

Lupe is a first-gen Latina college graduate. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education with an Emphasis in Language Acquisition from the University of Nevada, Reno. She believes in the importance of connecting storytelling and a child’s personal experiences to their learning journey. Lupe has worked with a wide range of children, from grades K-6. For the past several years she has served as a Spanish Immersion educator. Suarez joins Project Scientist because she believes in providing girls from under-represented and underserved communities with the tools and skills needed to succeed in any career opportunity they pursue.  Her favorite woman in STEM is archeologist and botanist, Zelia Nuttall who helped restore the story of the ancient indigenous people of Mexico and advocated for the revival of native traditions, all while blazing the trail for future women in STEM. 

Scarlett Webb is a native to NY, she grew up in the Adirondacks, and moved to Rochester, NY to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology for Biotechnology. Scarlett has been involved with children’s STEM Enrichment and leadership programs for over 20 years. This includes Clubs, STEM Hubs, Girl Scouts, and Project Scientist. Scarlett has been a Site Director for Project Scientist since 2021.  Scarlett has a passion to ignite a love and confidence of STEM in children, with a focus on girls and young women

Michelle has been a K-12 science educator for over 20 years, with the majority of that time spent in the middle school science classroom teaching Life, Earth, and Physical Sciences in addition to STEM related electives.  She calls the great Pacific Northwest her home and has spent her life between Oregon and Washington.  Michelle holds a M.S. in Science Education from Montana State University, as well as a B.S. and B.A.E. in Biology and a B.A.E. in Earth Science from Eastern Washington University.  Since 2021 Michelle has been teaching with Project Scientist for both virtual STEM Club and summer STEM Lab.  She believes wholeheartedly in the mission of Project Scientist and feels extremely fortunate to be involved as both a teacher and a parent of two participating daughters!  Getting to share the joy of scientific discovery with so many young and curious minds is incredibly rewarding and inspiring.

Devon Vojtech loves to be outside and study the natural environment. She earned a B.S. in Geology at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and M.S. in Geological Sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Devon worked as a research scientist before earning a M.S. degree in education. Devon has been teaching science in grades 6-12 for over ten years and currently teaches middle school science. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with her husband, daughter, dog, and cat.