2017 STEM Advisory Board Members

Furahi Achebe Technology Teacher New Haven Schools Furahi Achebe is a technology education teacher in a New Haven high school, where she teaches digital movie making, broadcasting and animation. Prior to being an educator, Achebe was a medicinal chemist for 19 years then she carried out mining chemicals research for four years. Achebe is listed as co-inventor on five pharmaceutical patents or patent applications.

Over the past 30 years Achebe has championed the cause of STEM literacy for all. In college and throughout her adult life she has tutored students in science and math. She has volunteered for numerous programs that either promote STEM education in schools or science literacy for the public. As a science fair mentor she volunteered for six years in the same classroom helping students with their science-fair projects. She has designed and implemented numerous science-enrichment after-school programs or one-day science programs at fairs, road races, and other outdoor events. She has been a speaker at a number of Women in Science events. Achebe has given classes and workshops on Digital Journalism and has helped hundreds of young people learn to raise their voices through media. Much of Achebe’s activities have focused on promoting STEM literacy in underserved communities. For this reason, in 2001 she won the Volunteer of the Year award from the Northeast Regional NOBECHE (National Society of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers). In 2011, Achebe founded a nonprofit whose mission is to help every teen find an achievable dream. The organization produces ‘The Fitting Room’ a free virtual-career-day web-show that exposes teens to professions in two-minute video vignettes. The videos are filmed and edited by urban teens. The weekly show is posted at www.thefittingroom.tv Achebe holds a Certificate in Filmmaking from New York University and a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from Cornell University. Achebe is a proud mother of four adult children and a grandmother to a five-year old boy. Dr. Hisham Alnajjar Program Director NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium Dr. Hisham Alnajjar: professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Hartford, Director of the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium, and the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology and Architecture. A Ph.D. graduate from Vanderbilt

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members University with research interests in sensor array processing, digital signal processing, power systems, and engineering education. Dr. Alnajjar spends significant amount of time on enrollment growth, retention, and student engagement as an associate dean. Additionally, as the Dir of the NASA Space Grant one his focuses is to inspire the pursuit of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), especially within groups who have traditionally been underrepresented within the STEM disciplines.

Tracy Ariel Director, Advanced Manufacturing Centers CT State Colleges and Universities Since September 2013, Tracy has been the Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Early College Opportunities at Connecticut State Colleges and Universities. Before her time with CT State Colleges and Universities, she worked in Human Resources. As well, she was a business owner for her company Stiches by ME until 2010. She

attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Hartford for Management and Human Resources. The Advanced Manufacturing Committee for CSCU’s goal is to be the leading provider in Manufacturing Workforce Training. The committee continues to develop programs and obtain funding, in order to create a program which will enable students with the skills to work successfully in the manufacturing workforce. Douglas Casey Executive Director Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology Doug Casey serves as the Executive Director for the Connecticut State Commission for Educational Technology (CET). In that role, he designs and manages the statewide educational technology plan to ensure the effective use of technology in Connecticut's schools, libraries, universities, and towns. Through a robust network of partners, he champions initiatives that address digital equity, computer science education, information literacy, data privacy, and public – private partnerships.

Prior to joining the CET, Doug served for nearly 10 years as the Director of Technology for the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) in Hartford. There he led efforts across 25 magnet schools and 36 districts to prepare students for college and 21st-century careers. Doug began as a middle school English teacher in Virginia and later served in a variety of organizations, from the Smithsonian’s Office of Education to the U.S. House of Representatives and national security agencies. Doug holds a B.A. in English from the College of William & Mary, an M.S. in Information Systems from George Washington University, and an M.A. in Communications from Georgetown University.

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members

Daisy Cocco De Filippis President Naugatuck Valley Community College De Filippis is currently president of Naugatuck Valley Community College—the first Dominican president of a community college in the United States. She served for many years as professor of Spanish and Latin-American Literature at The City University of New York (York College).

President De Filippis holds a Ph.D. in Spanish Language and a M. Phil. in Spanish Literature from the Graduate School and University Center of CUNY, as well as an M.A. in Spanish Literature and a B.A. in Spanish and English Literatures summa cum laude from Queens College, CUNY. A published author and literary critic, her scholarly work is recognized internationally as pioneering the field of Dominican women studies and Dominican authors in the U.S.

Prior to coming to NVCC, Dr. De Filippis served as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College of the City University of New York (CUNY). Dr. De Filippis began her career at York College as an adjunct lecturer in 1978, advancing to become a professor of Spanish and ultimately being appointed associate dean for academic affairs.

President De Filippis serves on the Board of Directors and as the Chair of the Governance Committee for the United Way of Greater Waterbury, the Board of Directors for the Waterbury Regional Chamber, the Connecticut Technical High School System Board, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty’s STEM Education Advisory Board, the advisory board of the Dominican Studies Institute at the City College, CUNY and on the Board of the Dominican Studies Association. She is a regular panelist at the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Wellesley Conference where she provides leadership and career advice to approximately sixty women each spring.

Andrea Comer Executive Director Connecticut Business & Industry Association Andrea Comer is the executive director of CBIA’s Education & Workforce Partnership and director of CBIA’s workforce development and training. She manages initiatives designed to help the state’s businesses become more competitive by developing a skilled workforce. A former elected Hartford Board of Education and State Board of Education member, Comer has spent the past two decades working to improve the lives of children and strengthen communities. Prior to joining CBIA, she served as chief development officer for an education management organization,

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members where she oversaw communications, outreach and fundraising. Comer has worked in various municipal government roles, serving as project manager and communications director for the cities of Hartford and New Haven, as a senior program officer for The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, and as a consultant on youth initiatives for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities.

As the first female president of the Greater Hartford African American Alliance, Comer developed The Connect, a mentoring project that paired male Hartford middle school students with young professional males of color.

Comer serves on the boards of the Capital Community College Foundation and Teach for America Connecticut. Her community efforts have been recognized by the Connecticut Commission on Children, the YMCA, the Urban League of Greater Hartford and the CT NAACP, which named her among the 100 Most Influential Blacks in the State.

Felix Cowey Deputy Director Starbase STARBASE is a five day STEM-based academy in which students collaborate to explore various fields of science and mathematics. The students use the Scientific Method to conduct experiments in chemistry and physics, make observations, and analyze data through graphing and

comparison to draw conclusions about the world in which they live. They also make use of technology in the form of a high profile CAD program and 3-D printing. Students are challenged to utilize the knowledge they gain to engineer unique solutions to real world issues. Michael Clute President Ward Leonard Located in Thomaston, CT, Ward Leonard designs motors, relays, contactors, controllers, communications controllers and specialized electronic switches and instruments. Founded in 1891, when H. Ward Leonard invented the electric motor speed control system. Congresswoman Esty visited Ward Leonard in October 2016, where she met with owner and CEO Jon Carter, President Michael Clute and a range of Ward Leonard employees.

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members

Bonnie Del Conte President CONNSTEP Bonnie leads the development and execution of CONNSTEP’s strategic plan and works closely with the organization’s Board of Directors to oversee strategy implementation for long-term results. With more than 30 years of successful corporate leadership experience, Bonnie has provided financial and tax

planning services to small and midsize businesses, as well as operational management in both the service and manufacturing industries.

Prior to becoming president of CONNSTEP, Bonnie was the co-founder of a woman-owned accounting and technology resource company. Bonnie Co-chairs the Operational Improvements Committee for the CT Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) and is a stakeholder to the CT Manufacturing Innovation Fund (MIF) Advisory Board. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the New Haven Manufacturing Association, a member of the Connecticut Energy Workforce Development Consortium and the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission Advanced Manufacturing Work Group. She has also served on the Connecticut Innovation Ecosystem Planning Group and the state’s team for the National Governors’ Association Policy Academy.

In 2011, she was selected as one of the “Eight Remarkable Women” in business by the Hartford Business Journal. Additionally, Bonnie has been a judge for the Connecticut FIRST robotics regional competition. Bonnie is a magna cum laude graduate of Central Connecticut State University, a certified public accountant, and a member of the Connecticut Society of CPAs.

Sandra Eddy Faculty Naugatuck Valley Community College

Sandra Eddy is a faculty member and Department Chair for Computer Information Systems & Business Computer Applications at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) in Waterbury, CT. Her department is responsible for technology education in 19 unique subject and technology areas staffed by 30 faculty members with diverse industry and technology skill sets.

Ms. Eddy is a current committee member on the State of Connecticut Transfer Articulation Policy (TAP) initiative, approved by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education for implementation of a common, transferrable General Education curriculum across the 17 ConnSCU institutions. She is currently the committee member for NVCC on three subgroups:

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members Computer Science, Cyber Security, and Management Information Systems. She is also an active member on the NVCC General Education Committee. Ms. Eddy spent fifteen years with the high tech firm Digital Equipment Corporation in numerous positions in corporate finance, sales management and consulting.

Ms. Eddy is a Colby College graduate with a BA in Economics and a BA in Administrative Science and earned an MBA from Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School. Her honors include Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude, and highest distinction. Professional credentials include CompTIA Project+™ certification, Project Management Institute (PMI) membership, and user group leadership with Blackboard™ technology educational support.

Kate Farrar Executive Director Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund Kate C. Farrar brings over 15 years of nonprofit management and women's issue expertise to her role as Executive Director of the Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF). Prior to CWEALF, Kate was the Vice President of the American Association of University Women (AAUW)'s Campus Leadership Programs in Washington, D.C. where she guided the strategy and

management of the organization's nationwide college women's leadership programs, college/university relationships, and science, technology, engineering, and math programs for girls. In D.C. Kate also served as the associate director of National Programs and Policy at Wider Opportunities for Women where she led the Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Project (FESS), a nationwide project focused on policies and programs to move low-income families toward economic independence.

To begin her career, Kate lobbied the Connecticut state legislature on behalf of nonprofit organizations and served as a field organizer in Wisconsin for the 2004 presidential campaign. A lifelong supporter and advocate of women's representation in politics, Farrar is President of the Women Under Forty Political Action Committee, the only nonpartisan PAC in the country that supports young women running for office.

Patrice Gans Founder/Executive Director Random Hacks of Kindness Junior, Inc. Patrice Gans is the Founder and Executive Director of Random Hacks of Kindness Junior Inc (RHoK Jr.) is a nonprofit agency in Connecticut that provides elementary and middle school children (specifically 4th-8th grade) the opportunity to come together as

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members problem solvers and innovators to make the world a better place. RHoK Jr. embraces the concept of providing students a venue for focusing on solving real problems for real people. Since its first formal ”hackathon” in April 2015, RHoK Jr has; (a) Inspired over 500 students (4-8th graders), 75% of the participants are girls, (b) Encouraged 150 high school students to mentor, (c) Connected with over 100 community organizations and local non-profits, (d) Created a network of high school mentors where 83% are eager to return, (e) Successfully inspired the young participants, so that over 90% say they would attend again in the future. Patrice taught technology and computer science at Fraser Woods Montessori School in Newtown, CT for six years. While working at FWM, she was elected to the Computer Science Teachers Associations (CSTA) Board of Directors as their K8 Representative. Her role on the CSTA Board also entailed chairing the organization's K8 Task Force. Patrice remains an active member of the CT Chapter of CSTA. An active member of the CT Computer Science community, Patrice has always championed teaching computer science to students starting in elementary school. Patrice is a passionate supporter of computer science for all.

Jonathan Hernandez High School Student U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar Candidate Jonathan Hernandez is a High School Student from Avon. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from the D.O. of the Congresswoman. He was involved in Indoor and Outdoor Track, Cross Country and the Student Run Writing Center at his high school. As well, he was the captain of his Indoor Track team and was an All-Conference Runner. He participated in the Model United Nations as an extra-curricular and was inducted into the National Honor Society. Further he taught swim lessons for two years and worked a life guard.

Jan Hochadel Professional Development Coordinator American Federation of Teachers On May, 2015, Jan Hochadel was elected president of AFT Connecticut. At the time she was in her sixth year as an officer of the affiliated State Vocational Federation of Teachers (SVFT), representing the Connecticut State Technical High School System's (CTHSS) educators and support personnel.

Jan held a variety of union leadership roles with SVFT, including on the Grievance and Arbitration Committee and as building representative for J.M. Wright Technical High School in Stamford. She previously served as treasurer of AFT

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members Connecticut's state employee unions coalition and on the Executive Committee as jurisdictional vice president for members employed under the State Employees Relations Act (SERA).

In addition to her union leadership roles, Jan has a deep background in education and public service. She taught science at both Wright Tech H.S., where she was the 2006-2007 teacher of the year, and Kaynor Technical High School in Waterbury. Jan additionally served as an after-school supervisor class advisor, a Beginning Educator Support Team (BEST) mentor and chemical hygiene officer while working as an educator in the CTHSS.

Laura Jaworski Office of International and Domestic Business Development Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Laura Jaworski is a Business Development Project Manager for the State of Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Office of International and Domestic Business Development. Ms. Jaworski works to increase the global competitiveness of Connecticut business by helping them enter new

markets, pursues global opportunities and builds international public and private strategic partnerships. Ms. Jaworski’s responsibilities include foreign direct investment, business recruitment and protocol assignments.

Since 2011, Ms. Jaworski has served as Connecticut’s Project Director for the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant, a federal award from the U.S. Small Business Administration geared to increase small business exports. Laura is a Phi Beta Kappa summa cum laude graduate of Syracuse University and has a M.A. in government from Columbia University.

Kelley T. Johnson Founder/President Doors to Explore Inc. Kelley T. Johnson, Founder and President, of Doors to Explore Inc. has 20+ years of experience as an engineering and business leader in high-tech where she has launched numerous first-generation products. She has designed electronics and managed engineering teams for space systems, communications systems, and consumer electronics for NASA, Lockheed Martin, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and Intel Corporation. Her business roles at Intel Corporation included early strategic planning and marketing for the Intel® Atom, business analysis for high-value (~$1B) corporate strategic discussions, and M&A analysis for new technologies and potential investments. She holds an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Johns

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members Hopkins University, and a B.S. in Computer Science Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. Ms. Johnson founded Doors to Explore Inc. in 2015. The company provides an online platform for employers to scale their STEM educational outreach and workforce development goals, while helping high school and college students discover STEM careers.

Catherine Lasser Retired CTO IBM Cathy retired from IBM after 36 years of service. Her last position was Vice President and CTO for the Distribution Sector of the IBM Sales & Distribution division. She lead IBM’s technical community bringing value to clients in the retail, consumer packaged goods and travel and transportation industries. She also worked with and lead IBM’s global research organization to create innovations that support current and future solutions needed by this diverse client community. Cathy managed the client facing technical teams around the world ensuring

IBM’s clients received the technical support and innovation needed to help them achieve their business objectives. Cathy was also the executive sponsor for the Women in Technology network for the IBM Research division as well as a member of the women in technology leadership team for the corporation. Cathy began her career with IBM in 1978. She has held various technical and leadership positions including: Vice President, Industry solutions and emerging technology for Research, Vice President B2B, operations and IT executive advocate, IBM CIO’s office and CIO IBM Research division. Throughout her career, she successfully managed innovation and transformation projects. Cathy holds a BS in Mathematics/Computer Science from SUNY Binghamton and an MBA in Finance from Iona College.

In addition to her IBM responsibilities, Cathy’s activities include: Ten years on the Board of Education, Brookfield, CT School District Current Board Member, Brookfield Library Board Member, Hearts Around the World Current Board Member, Regional YMCA of Western CT National Academy of Engineering committee on diversity in the technical work force University of Vermont, Advisory Board on the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Arizona State University, Industry Advisory Council, School of Computing and Informatics Current Justice of the Peace, State of Connecticut

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members Gary Mala Superintendent Avon Public Schools Gary S. Mala, currently Superintendent of Schools in Avon, Connecticut, has over thirty-two years of experience in public education and began his tenure in the Avon Public Schools in March 2011. Prior to Avon, Mr. Mala served as Superintendent of Schools for seven years in Regional School District 17, which covers the towns of Haddam and Killingworth in Connecticut. Prior to his position as Superintendent in Region 17, he served as Superintendent of Schools for the Southwick-Tolland Regional School District in Southwick, Massachusetts. Gary Mala is a past recipient of the Presidential Award of Achievement as a distinguished graduate from Central Connecticut State University and most recently was awarded the Presidential Award from the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS). He was also nominated as Superintendent of the Year in Connecticut in 2013 and 2014. Among some of Mr. Mala’s achievements are initiating legislative activity that led to the passage of Public Act 08-141: An Act Concerning On-line Procurement by State Agencies, Municipalities and Regional and Local School Districts as well as leading an effort that resulted in the repeal of the gross receipts tax on fuel purchases to municipalities and regional and local school districts. He is active in the Connecticut Computer Science For All movement and has expanded STEM course offerings in each district that he has led.

Matt Mervis Director Skills21 at EdAdvance Matt Mervis has worked as an entrepreneur, consultant, and edtech product developer for over 20 years. He has served in roles including classroom teacher, district technology director, professional development specialist and innovation designer. Matt brings a unique set of skills and experience to help lead the exceptional team at Skills21 at EdAdvance.

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members Heather Lynn Morgado Associate Director, Human Resources Boehringer Ingelheim USA Inc. Heather is currently the Associate Director for Boehringer Ingelheim, serving Academic Relations and Diversity. She manages the development, execution and sustainability of the diversity recruiting and on-campus recruiting strategies across the U.S. To attract and develop future leaders at BI, Heather leads the BI Management Rotation Program, a 2 to 3 year MBA – Masters level leadership program. Heather attended Western Connecticut State University to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration then went on to Cornell University for a Master’s Degree in Human Resources.

Haley Nemeth Executive Administration Jonal Laboratories Haley will be the third generation to own Jonal Labs. YOU met her at the Jonal Labs/ Pratt & Whitney Agreement signing on February 19, 2015. Attended YOUR March 12, 2015 Women in STEM Meeting. Over the years, Jonal Laboratories has grown from a job shop to a custom manufacturer with design assistance supplying a wide range of elastomeric products for the aerospace, military, and industrial markets.

Products range from standard o-rings to custom designed complex molded shapes, fabric reinforced seals, thin walled diaphragms, aerodynamic and platform seals, rubber-to-metal bonding, silicone extrusions, and Electromagnetic interference/radio-frequency interference (EMI/RFI) shielding products.

Susan Palisano Director of Education & Workforce Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Susan Palisano has served as director of education & workforce development since 2005. She has more than 23 years of experience in both public and private sector information technology and education, and has an extensive background in best practices and policy, teacher professional development and adult learning, curriculum, and grant proposal development and project administration.

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members At CCAT, she heads a team that implements innovative programs and initiatives to develop and support today and tomorrow’s skilled, educated and vital STEM workforce. Before coming to CCAT, Palisano held several educational leadership positions, including director of instructional technology for Hamden (CT) Public Schools. While in-district, she worked directly with teachers and students to provide strategies, vision, and direction for the successful use of technology as an instructional tool; developed a context-based K-12 curriculum, and introduced inquiry-based and real-world simulation math and science initiatives.

Ellen Ravens-Seger Administrative Program Assistant Uconn Health Ellen Ravens-Seger joined the Connecticut Area Health Education Center program (CT AHEC) at UConn Health in March 2015 as an Administrative Program Assistant, where she coordinates K-16 programs and tracks data. The CT AHEC program, based at UConn Health, is implemented through four regional centers located in the Bridgeport, Hartford, New London and Waterbury areas. The CT

AHEC Network works throughout Connecticut to support primary care workforce development through pre-professional health career preparation, health profession student training, and public health and health care provider continuing education programming and activities, with an emphasis on the needs of underserved populations. Prior to UConn Health, Ellen worked at Channing Bete Company, a publisher of public health, health and human services educational materials. Ellen holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Kathryn Rizzo Manager RA and BD Protein Sciences Corporation Kathryn Rizzo joined Protein Sciences Corporation in 2002 in process development with the Molecular Group. In her 15 year tenure at Protein Sciences Kathryn has had the privilege of working in both downstream and upstream development and was directly involved with the licensure of Flublok Influenza Vaccine in 2013. In 2015 Kathryn joined the Business Development team as a Project Manager. Protein Sciences Corporation is an innovative biopharmaceutical company which is developing next generation vaccines using their proprietary cell culture technology.

Kathryn is a product of the Connecticut State College system, graduating from CCSU with a degree in Biology in 2002. She completed her graduate degree at Quinnipiac University in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2008.

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members

Lawrence Rizzolo, PhD Professor of Surgery/Ophthalmology Yale University Dr. Rizzolo received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Duke University in 1977. He received postdoctoral training in biochemistry at Harvard Medical School and in cell biology at the New York University School of Medicine. He received further training in pedagogy and curriculum development at the Harvard-Macy Institute and is a Gallup-Certified strengths coach. Rizzolo joined the Yale faculty in 1993 where he has served as the Director of Medical Sciences for the Section of Anatomy,

and Course Director of Human Anatomy and Development. He developed “Anatomy Clinic”, an online guide for training clinical students that is used worldwide. Rizzolo holds joint appointments in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and the Yale Stem Cell Center. His current research focuses on stem cell approaches to studying retinal degenerations, such as age-related macular degeneration. He is a Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He currently serves on the editorial boards of Anatomical Sciences Education and Molecular Vision and advises medical schools on curricular development. Ellyn Savard Manager of STEM Program Girl Scouts of Connecticut Ellyn Savard brings teaching and leadership experience to her work at Girl Scouts. Under her purview, Girl Scouts offers robotics, rocketry, astronomy, engineering and coding to its members, and connects girls to varied STEM programming through corporations such as Travelers, Merrill Lynch, GE and Sikorsky, as well as colleges and universities and the Society of Women Engineers. The focus of her work is to engage girls in STEM learning and to train those adults who work with girls to be successful role models and mentors. Ellyn serves on several statewide boards and committees that advise in STEM practices and recognize women and girls who are making a difference in STEM. She feels she has the best job in the world!

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members

Melanie Sinche Director of Education Jackson Laboratory Melanie Sinche is currently the Director of Education at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, Conn., developing programs for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars in genomic education.Prior to this position, she served as a Senior Research Associate in the Labor and Worklife Program at the Harvard Law School, where she conducted survey research on careers for PhDs in science. She was also the Founding Director of the FAS Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Harvard University, held the same

position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as a consultant to the National Institutes of Health in building the first NIH Career Services Center for over 9,000 intramural trainees. Her current research explores employment patterns of recent science and engineering PhDs. Her work also addresses skills and experiences required to enter different scientific occupations, and illustrates whether these were developed in the educational/training period of the PhD or on the job, thus contributing to the national discussion of efficacious training of PhD-level scientists and engineers.

Melanie received her Bachelor's degree from Colgate University, and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan and North Carolina State University. She is also a National Certified Counselor with a career development focus. She currently holds a contract for a book on careers for PhDs in science with Harvard University Press, to be released in the fall of 2016.

Lila Snyder President, Global Ecommerce Pitney Bowes

As the leader of the Global Ecommerce business at Pitney Bowes, Lila is responsible for the growth of the cross-border ecommerce and the retail shipping businesses. She and her team are helping clients advance their ecommerce businesses and reach more consumers around the world, delivering on the promise of Anywhere to Everywhere™ commerce. Prior to this role, Lila was the president of the company’s global production mail business. This includes the

design, manufacture, installation and service of print and mail equipment as well as driving client insight through data and analytics. Before joining Pitney Bowes in November 2013, Lila was a partner at McKinsey & Company, Inc. In this role, she was the leader of McKinsey's Stamford office and focused on serving clients in the technology, media and communications sectors. Her work spanned strategy, operations, marketing and sales, working with clients to drive sustainable performance and build capabilities. Lila holds S.M. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Miami.

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members

Chris Stone Science Teacher/Director Wallingford Public Schools/CT STEM Academy Christopher Stone is a certified elementary teacher, cooperating teacher and mentor teacher with over twenty years of teaching experience. Chris has been recognized as a 2006 CT Teacher of the Year semi-finalist, the 2013 Connecticut Education Association John McCormack Excellence in Teaching Awardee, the 2014 National Foundation for the Improvement of Education (NFIE) Excellence in Teaching Awardee and the 2015 CT Science Teachers Association Elementary Excellence in Teaching Awardee.

In addition to many professional learning experiences, including global learning in China, Chris founded CT STEM Academy in 2012. This innovative enrichment program is designed for students interested in deepening their knowledge of STEM concepts with a special emphasis on gender equity, cultural diversity and direct family involvement. Chris currently teaches in Wallingford, CT where he also lives with his wife and three sons.

Darlene Stromstad CEO & President Waterbury Hospital Darlene Stromstad, FACHE, has been President & CEO of the Greater Waterbury Health Network (GWHN) and Waterbury Hospital since July 2011. For the past five years she has successfully led the organization’s efforts to navigate the rapidly changing waters of healthcare reform. Her relentless pursuit of

excellence and focus on cultural transformation is evident by improvements in quality indicators of care, enhanced patient satisfaction, and recognition of Waterbury Hospital by US News & World Report, Consumer Reports, and Healthgrades, among other organizations.

In 2015, Waterbury Hospital was recognized as a high performing, “regional best” hospital by U.S. News & World Report for both knee and hip replacements and named one of the top hospitals in Connecticut. In 2014, Waterbury Hospital was the only Connecticut hospital to receive the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence from Healthgrades, placing it among the top 5 percent of hospitals nationwide in clinical outcomes.

Before joining GWHN and Waterbury Hospital, Stromstad was President and CEO of Goodall Hospital, Sanford, ME. She also served as Senior Vice President of Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH. Stromstad is actively engaged in national, state, and local organizations. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and has served as ACHE Regent for Maine, a member of the national Board of Governors of ACHE, and now serves on the ACHE

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members Ethics Committee. She is also a member of the board of the Connecticut Association Health Care Executives. At the state level, she is a board member of the Connecticut Hospital Association. Locally, Stromstad is a member of the board of directors for the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Waterbury United Way.

She also serves on the Naugatuck Community College Advisory Council. A native of North Dakota, Stromstad received her BA from the University of North Dakota, and her MBA from Rivier College in Nashua, NH.

Jason Teal Chairman CT NAACP Economic Development The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

Nivea Torres Superintendent of Schools CT Technical High Schools Dr. Nivea Lisandra Torres presently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Connecticut Technical High School System. She is a dedicated and passionate educator who has served students at all grade levels in Puerto Rico and Connecticut for over 23 years. Previous to her appointment as Interim Superintendent, Dr. Torres

served as the technical system’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. She came to the State Department of Education and the Connecticut Technical High School System as a former district administrator and brought firsthand knowledge of the challenges and realities of operating effective schools. Dr. Torres served as principal of the Windham Center School in Windham, Connecticut where she was able to impact student achievement by leading the school to Safe Harbor status during her third year as principal. She has served as bilingual coordinator and curriculum specialist for Windham Public Schools, and was a Language Arts and English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher within the district. Dr. Torres has also served as adjunct professor of curriculum at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education. In addition, she has experience as an Adult ESL Teacher for adult

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members immigrant students and taught within the Windham community for many years. She holds a B.A. in Foreign Service and International Politics from the Pennsylvania State University, an M.Ed. in English as a Second Language from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Connecticut. Dantaya Williams Inclusion &Diversity, HR UTC, Pratt & Whitney Dantaya Williams has 18 years of collective experience in Human Resources, Labor Relations, and Diversity & Inclusion Management. She currently provides HR leadership and direction to the Commercial Engines organization, with a specific focus on aligning HR strategies to the evolving needs of the business, as well as leading initiatives regarding talent management, diversity, and managing positive employee relations across Pratt & Whitney’s global network. Previously she worked as Vice President, Talent, Inclusion, and Engagement for United Technologies Corporation. The Talent, Inclusion, and Engagement organization was established in February 2014 under Dantaya’s leadership. In this role she was responsible for accelerating UTC’s global diversity and inclusion strategy, employee engagement, talent acquisition, and talent development initiatives.

Dantaya joined UTC at the Carrier division in 1999 as a Labor Relations Representative in Syracuse, NY. She held a number of large field HR leadership roles, including Global HR Manager for Carrier’s Carlyle Compressor business and Senior HR Manager for the Collierville, TN Residential HVAC manufacturing facility.

In 2012, Dantaya joined the governance council for A.I. Prince Technical High School as a community leader where she assisted the school administration in analyzing school achievement data and the development of programmatic changes to improve school performance. In 2013, she joined the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford and chairs the board’s personnel committee.

Dantaya earned a B.A. in Psychology and a master’s degree in Labor Relations & Human Resources both from Michigan State University.

2017 STEM Advisory Board Members

Cynthia Zoldy Executive Director Smaller Manufacturers Association

Cyndi Zoldy was appointed as the Executive Director for the Smaller Manufacturers’ Association of CT (SMA) in November 2012. The appointed was approved by the Board of Directors of the SMA and contracted as a part time employee of the non-profit membership

organization. Charged with running the association, Ms. Zoldy reports to the 15-member Board of Directors and handles all day to day operations including all financial reporting. Ms. Zoldy has over 18 years of management and accounting experience, after graduation she immediately accepted a job as an accountant for BE Aerospace in Litchfield, Connecticut. After taking a short break to have children, Ms. Zoldy returned to the workplace in 2001 as owner and Director of a private preschool in Watertown.

Responsible for daily curriculum planning, financial planning and execution along with recruitment, Ms. Zoldy built an excellent reputation in the education community of Watertown. Looking for a more challenging position, Ms. Zoldy sold her preschool after growing its enrollment by 100%, she took the position with the SMA where she currently serves. Charged with growing the SMA, Ms. Zoldy implemented a new functional website, membership software and directed materials to introduce the SMA to the community. In program development, she increased meeting attendance by 35% and reached out to sister organizations to solidify better working relationships as they apply to manufacturing.

Currently, she works on broadening her educational background to include the development of STEM initiatives in both technical and comprehensive schools. Ms. Zoldy enjoys an office at Naugatuck Valley Community College where she assists in the continued success of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. Ms. Zoldy holds a B.S. degree in Finance from Post University in Waterbury and also still holds the State of Connecticut Directors Credential granted by Charter Oak State College in 2012. Beyond academic achievements, Ms. Zoldy sits on numerous boards including the Naugatuck Valley Community College Foundation Board, Manufacturing Advisory Council for both CBIA and Waterbury Regional Chamber, Connecticut Association of Small Manufacturers (CASM), Women In Manufacturing Member, Mattatuck Museum and St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation event planning committees. Ms. Zoldy has been married for 23 years, to a local manufacturer, John Zoldy, and they have 4 boys.