Meet our Team

Shana is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Illinois with 16 years of STEM and education experience. Her studies focus on Education Policy and Organizational Leadership and include advanced certificates in Diversity & Equity and Technology. As a former public high school teacher and leader, she led, supported, and implemented initiatives that improved outcomes for marginalized students. She later extended her service and leadership to teacher education at the university level. Shana served as a STEM Teacher Mentor, University Supervisor, Professor, and a National Science Foundation Noyce Scholars Faculty member. Among other accomplishments, she developed college courses for graduates and undergraduates, established department guidelines, and initiated strategic district partnerships. Shana earned a B.S. in Biology from Purdue University and a M.S. in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University. She joined Project Scientist because she wants increase representation in STEM for all women and girls, especially Black, Indigenous, and other Women of Color. Shana most values spending time traveling and volunteering with her children and husband. Her favorite woman in STEM is Jewel Plummer Cobb, for her university leadership and contributions to cancer research as a biologist. 

Farah Faruqi is a Ph.D. candidate in STEM education. She holds a BSc. and MSc. in Physiology and Genetics. She is a STEM education scholar committed to STEM education and educational equity. She has published her research in the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) and produced two policy reports designed to help policymakers, administrators, and teachers implement remote learning effectively and equitably with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She has served as a STEM educator, facilitator, teacher mentor, and curriculum developer in San Francisco Bay Area. She believes every child is a scientist because they are curious about the world around them. Often, students lose their sense of curiosity. Sustaining this sense of wonder, educators, parents, and others close to children have a tremendous responsibility.

Anushka is a communications and marketing specialist with over 10 years experience helping nonprofit organizations in India and the United States tell their story and grow their audience. Throughout her career, Anushka has been committed to helping create a just and equitable society. Prior to joining the Project Scientist team, she helped lead 500 Women Scientists—a global grassroots organization dedicated to gender and racial equity in STEMM. Anushka’s passion for equity in STEMM comes from this experience as well as from her brief stint in aviation when she learned to fly planes in Texas. One of her favorite women in STEMM is Mae Jemison, an engineer, physician, NASA astronaut and the first African-American to travel to space. Anushka’s interests outside of work include watercolor painting, tending to her plants, watching Korean dramas and volunteering with local organizations. Originally from the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, Anushka now lives in Chicago, USA.

Sarah has over seven years of nonprofit experience across the country working in Atlanta, Kansas City, Louisiana and is currently based in Las Vegas.For the past several years, Sarah has worked in a variety of operational roles within nonprofits working with marginalized communities and being an advocate for the populations she has worked with including those impacted by natural disasters, spinal cord injuries, and mental health crisis' with teenage girls.  One of the reasons Sarah joined the Project Scientist is because of her own passion to ensure that girls know from an early age, careers do not have to follow gender norms. Project Scientist's goal of cultivating an environment for confident girls aligns with Sarah's personal belief that confidence is vital to living a successful and fulfilled life. She holds a Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership from Arizona State University and a Master's in Nonprofit Administration. Sarah’s favorite scientist is Grace Hopper who enlisted during WWII in the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) and later went on to co-develop one of the earliest standardized computer languages. 

Alicia has over seven years experience working within the non-profit and education sector. Most recently, she worked in Arlington, Virginia as a secondary school teacher. There she taught an interdisciplinary course to middle and highschool students that aimed to bridge the gap between humanities and STEM subjects. Prior to teaching, Alicia worked in development at several different non-profits in Atlanta, Georgia including The Carter Center and CARE USA. She is excited to use both her knowledge from her teaching career as well as her experience in non-profit development to help Project Scientist reach their goals. Alicia holds a Bachelors in International Relations and Modern Languages as well as a Masters in International Relations and Global Development from The Georgia Institute of Technology. Her favorite woman in STEM is Dr. Neha Kumar, a Georgia Tech professor who works to inform the design and adoption of computing technologies in marginal contexts. Dr. Kumar was the first to clearly teach Alicia how a feminist perspective on science and technology can change lives.

Zarett Ramirez is a third grade teacher in North Carolina. She is a first generation latina college student and holds a B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies as well as a Masters in Arts of Teaching from UNC Chapel Hill. GO Heels! She is bilingual in Spanish and has Mexican and Honduran roots. She is passionate about upholding an inclusive and equitable education for all students. She has worked with Project Scientist for about a year and has enjoyed forming part of the Project Scientist team! She first learned about Project Scientist when one of the programs would be offered fully in Spanish in her school. As a native Spanish speaker she loved the opportunity to teach young Latina girls like herself about the amazing world of science. She loves Project Scientist's mission to empower youth from the age of 4 to be curious, make mistakes and share their learning!

Lizette is an educator with over 13 years of experience from St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands which is where her love of chemistry was sparked. She holds a B.S in Chemistry from the University of the Virgin Islands and a M.S in Educational Technology from Boise State University.  She joins Project Scientist because she sees it as an exceptional opportunity for creating a support structure where girls feel comfortable experimenting and learning in a safe space.

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.

Deon Pennyman, lives in McDonough Georgia.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Georgia College & State University and a Master of Public Health from Mercer University School of Medicine. She received her Ed.S. Degree in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University. She is a certified science and STEM-endorsed teacher.  With a passion for science, she has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade science.