Andrea Brooke

Chair (she/her)

Andrea is a Senior Program Manager focused on Employee Giving and Disaster Response with Microsoft Philanthropies team. In her role, she helps to equip people unreached or displaced by technology with computing and AI skills by building multi-stakeholder, international partnerships. She believes that gaining in-demand basic to advanced digital skills paired with work-based learning opportunities will lead to gainful employment and improved livelihoods, and by working in partnership, we can leverage our resources more effectively and increase our collective impact.

Andrea formerly developed the community development and event program managed at the Microsoft retail stores, which focused on providing education enrichment to schools, nonprofits, and community organization, as well as unique consumer experiences through product launches and consumer campaigns. Before joining Microsoft, Andrea worked in public and section 8 housing for the training and consulting company NMA.

Andrea is an active advocate for girls and women in technology, people with dyslexia, and young people early in career.

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Siobahn Day Grady, Ph.D.

Treasurer (she/her)

Siobahn is the first woman Computer Science Ph.D. graduate from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Siobahn received her BS in Computer Science from Winston-Salem State University, a master's degree in Information Science from North Carolina Central University, and in 2018 obtained her master's and a doctorate of philosophy degree in Computer Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
 
She is an Assistant Professor of Information Science/Systems in the School of Library and Information Science at North Carolina Central University, an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador, and a North Carolina Central University OeL Faculty Fellow.
 
Dr. Grady advocates for increasing the number of women and minorities in computer science. She believes that "The STEM workforce has both gender disparities and that of historically disenfranchised groups. As an ambassador, she affects change by examining girls' perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors and helping them gain confidence in curating and developing a STEM identity." Technology is the way of the future, and Dr. Grady has a vision for minority girl's and women's futures. She realizes that vision by providing educational opportunities through community organizations, college courses, and research grants and publications.

Gabriela A. González, Ph.D. 

Board Member (she/her)

Dr. Gabriela A. González is the Director of Intel’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Research Office where she oversees global STEM education research, policy, governance, initiatives, and thought leadership across the enterprise. Dr. González engages and collaborates with multiple stakeholders across Intel as well as external partners and collaborators in academia, government, industry, and non-profit agencies to drive and influence inclusive and equitable STEM education outcomes. Prior to this role Dr. González was the Deputy Director and Operations Manager of the Intel Foundation informing K12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and Women & Girls STEM strategies after serving as a Program Manager for Intel Labs leading Intel’s strategic corporate relationships and academic programs with top U.S., Europe, and Latin America research universities. Dr. González held several engineering roles at Intel throughout her career including the transfer of the latest microprocessor technologies from development to high-volume manufacturing and management of equipment capacity, labor, and operational productivity. Dr. González began her professional career at Xerox Corporation where she held various manufacturing, engineering, and management leadership positions.

Dr. González is the former chair of the National Science Foundation (NSF) STEM Education Panel and serves on the Board of Directors for Project Lead the Way, the National Girls Collaborative, and is a member of the University of Washington's Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board. She is an active member of her professional, social, and cultural communities as a leader and role model, driving impact for underrepresented students and professionals in STEM around the globe. Dr. González holds a Ph.D. in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology from Arizona State University, an M.S. in Engineering and Manufacturing Management from Clarkson University, and a B. S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington.

Anita Krishnamurthi, Ph.D.

Board Member (she/her)

Anita is a passionate advocate for equitable access to education and science with a deep commitment to young people. She has a PhD in Astrophysics from The Ohio State University and moved to a career focused on STEM education and informal learning, recognizing its intersection with social justice and social mobility.

Anita is the President of the Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS), a new initiative she is launching and leading while serving as a Senior Vice President for STEM & Youth Engagement at the Afterschool Alliance.  CYESS will bring together partners using afterschool and other out-of-school-time programs as spaces to more actively engage young people in tackling problems that impact their futures - solutions to which are often rooted in STEM.  The CYESS vision is to empower young people and ensure they have a seat at the table as we craft agendas and policies at the federal, state and local levels.

Prior to this role, Anita lived and worked in the UK for a few years. She most recently served as the Head of Education and Learning at the Wellcome Trust, a global health philanthropy based in London. She has previously worked in a range of organizations based in Washington, DC, that included non-profits, government, and academia. Her roles included serving as Vice President for STEM Policy at the Afterschool Alliance, Program Manager at NASA Headquarters, Lead for Education and Public Outreach in the Astrophysics Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, and the John Bahcall Public Policy Fellow at the American Astronomical Society.  In addition to serving on this Board, Anita serves on the Board of Nobel Prize Outreach in Sweden.

Patricia MacGowan 

Board Member (she/her)

Patricia MacGowan has been a leader in math and science education reform for over 30 years serving as the co-founder and former Executive Director of the Washington State MESA Program based at the University of Washington in Seattle. Washington MESA received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in 2000 under MacGowan’s leadership. Washington MESA is a statewide partnership program that builds pathways to college and careers for underrepresented minority and female students in mathematics, engineering, science, and technology. Washington MESA serves students in K-12 school districts and community colleges. 

Patricia’s award-winning career started as a middle and high school science teacher in Seattle Public Schools. She developed National Science Foundation sponsored programs for teacher professional development, and led projects to integrate mathematics, science, and engineering into standardized curriculum. Ms. MacGowan received the KCTS Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Education in 2005.

Now retired and a grandmother, her service continues as Board Member and Past Chair (2014-2019) for the National Girls Collaborative Project, as well as with the University of Washington, Washington School Employees Retired Association, and the legislative committee for the organization she founded.

Mary Murrin 

Board Member (she/her)

Mary Murrin is the Corporate Affairs Advisor to Chief Digital Officer for Chevron, based in Houston. She previously led social investment projects for Chevron in Houston and in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.

Mary graduated from Brown University and began her career in public affairs with Westinghouse Electric, returning to the energy industry with Chevron in 2014. In between, she led marketing and public relations for five Carnegie Mellon University start-ups developing software for web search, online education, and telecommunications. Mary is an active community volunteer, serving on the advisory board of the Houston Community College Foundation and the advisory board of the Hermann Park Conservancy along with NGCP. Mary is a former elected member of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County Democratic Committee.

Shihadah Saleem 

Board Member (she/her)

Shihadah  Saleem is currently the new Director of Youth Programs and Pathways at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, NY. She is from Far Rockaway, Queens, born and raised. Shihadah has three siblings, an older sister and brother and a younger brother. Growing up Shihadah was a VERY shy and nervous child, it was difficult for her to find her words and be independent. Fresh out of graduate school, Shihadah joined the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (2007-2008) as Museum educator and has worn many hats, as an informal educator, from providing tours and workshops for K-12 audiences to managing, developing, and facilitating teacher professional developments, hospital schools,  co-founding GOALS for Girls, and teen/youth programs. For over 10 years, Shihadah continues to provide rich STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and youth development programs and opportunities for students, parents, and the community.

Shihadah graduated from Townsend Harris High School, with an internship at New York Aquarium that continued to pique her interest in Marine Sciences. She also graduated with a B.A. from Alfred University, majoring in Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in natural sciences and geology. Additionally, she is a graduate of University of South Florida, College of Marine Science with her Master of Science Degree in Marine Geomorphology; a two-time recipient of the GK-12 OCEANS NSF Fellowship program and a graduate mentor for the Oceanography Camp for Girls. Shihadah loves singing, dancing, hanging with family and friends, gaming on her XBOX (first-person shooters is her jam), and cool fashion and beauty!

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Michael D. Smith, D.Eng. 

Secretary (he/him)

Michael D. Smith has over 25 years of experience in non-profit organizational operations and change management, governance, program development and implementation, strategic planning, meeting and event planning, and diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) advocacy, with a specialty in STEM fields. His evolved leadership style includes direct stakeholder engagement that spans pre-college through workforce, and nurtured client relationships with a foundation in collaborative networks. Through his passion for DEI, he has delivered and supported strategies that have elevated the DEI efforts within non-profits, academia, and industry in their support of underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, persons within and allies to the LGBTQIA+ community, and young girls and women.

Michael, known by many as “Dr. Mike,” is currently Operations Specialist with The PEER Group, a consulting company that specializes in evaluation, organizational leadership and development, and research with a focus on equity and inclusion. He also served as the former Deputy Executive Director of The National GEM Consortium (GEM), where he was responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operational, financial, programmatic, event planning, external communications, strategic partnerships, and board support services management of the organization, including management of the GEM Fellowship Program.

Prior to GEM, Dr. Mike served as Interim Deputy Executive Director and Director of Programs for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), responsible for the strategic development, evaluation, and implementation coordination of all student and technical professional programs at the chapter, regional, and national levels. He has previous industry experience with DuPont Specialty Chemicals, Phillips 66 Natural Gas Company, and Amoco Production, along with academe experience at Texas A&M University. Michael serves on numerous non-profit boards of directors of STEM-based organizations including the National Engineers Week Foundation (DiscoverE), National Girls Collaborative Project, aSTEAM Village, and The Carpentries.

Michael holds a BS and MS in chemical engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology (UM-Rolla) and a doctorate in chemical engineering/engineering management from Texas A&M University. Dr. Mike is proud to be a Lifetime member of NSBE, SHPE, AISES (Sequoyah Fellow), and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Jennifer Stancil

Board Member (she/her)

Jennifer Stancil is an innovative and visionary C-Suite executive living in North Carolina. As a specialist in start-up nonprofits, particularly those aligned with museum environments, she excels by leading teams to not just strive for, but establish, new best practices in informal education. For more than 20 years, Stancil’s ethos of inclusion has permeated her roles, leading educational organizations (Glazer Children’s Museum; Girls, Math & Science Partnership at Carnegie Science Center), creating impactful media through work with PBS, WQED, Twin Cities Public Television, and inventing her own, Emmy-award winning TV show, iQ:smartparent. Early in her career she helped open two museums in the Southeast (McWane Science Center; Marbles Children’s Museum (previously known as Exploris) that still thrive today. She is a sought out national speaker and advisor for national conferences and TV and blogs on wide-ranging preK-12 educational topics, about creativity, innovation, and equity (especially in the STEM fields) in education. Stancil is a former advisor to the Women and Girls Council formed by the Obama White House.

Karen A. Peterson

Ex Officio (she/her)

Karen A. Peterson is the Chief Executive Officer for the National Girls Collaborative. She has over 25 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, university instructor, teacher educator, program administrator, and researcher. Currently, Peterson is the Principal Investigator for the National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP). Designed by Peterson, the NGCP seeks to maximize access to shared resources for public and private sector organizations interested in expanding girls’ participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The overarching goal of NGCP is to use the leverage of a network or collaboration of individual girl-serving STEM programs to create the tipping point for gender equity in STEM. Currently, 33 Collaboratives, serving 41 states, facilitate collaboration between 36,400 organizations who serve 20.15 million girls and 9.5 million boys.

Peterson is also Co-Principal Investigator for Leap into Science: Cultivating a National Network for Informal Science and Literacy, STEM Integration into Digital Forensics Science Learning, SciGirls Code: A National Connected Learning Model to Integrate STEM Learning with Middle School Girls, and Code: SciGirls! Media to Engage Girls in Computing Pathways. All of these projects are funded by the National Science Foundation and address gender, racial, and socioeconomic underrepresentation in STEM fields. Many of them access NGCP’s national network and dissemination tools to distribute, scale-up, and/or replicate project outcomes. These projects have leveraged Karen’s expertise in STEM equity project development, effective national scale-up strategies, dissemination, and capacity building.>

Peterson serves on local and national boards that develop and administer programs designed to increase underrepresented students’ interests in STEM. She has served on the Board of Directors for True Child, an independent think tank that translates research and knowledge on the impact of gender stereotypes into a range of effective interventions, policies, and other resources for the organizations and policy makers. Peterson has published in The Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering and CBE Life Sciences Education, a journal published by the American Society for Cell Biology. She co-authored evaluation reports and promising practices reports in informal information technology education for girls for the National Center for Women & Information Technology. In 2013, Peterson was profiled in STEMConnector’s™ 100 Women Leaders in STEM publication. A graduate of the University of Washington, Bothell campus, her master’s thesis focused on gendered attitudes towards computer use in education.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn