The following persons can be contacted for clarification and direction. Please allow an appropriate amount of time for responses as vocational and personal commitments may not allow for an immediate response. THANK YOU for your understanding.
Phil Rogofsky <progofsky@yahoo.com>
Project Manager, Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration
My love for STEM began following the space program growing up in the 60's. I watch every launch, landing and recovery I could. It seemed like space exploration was everywhere in the news and popular culture including television, music and comic books. As a child, I couldn't believe people were ACTUALLY walking on the moon!. I try to watch with my children as many taking offs and landings of the Space Shuttle and other and spacecrafts as possible. That's why I included a picture of my family in front Launch Pad 39A where most of the Apollo spacecrafts took off.
My love for STEM began following the space program growing up in the 60's. I watch every launch, landing and recovery I could. It seemed like space exploration was everywhere in the news and popular culture including television, music and comic books. As a child, I couldn't believe people were ACTUALLY walking on the moon!. I try to watch with my children as many taking offs and landings of the Space Shuttle and other and spacecrafts as possible. That's why I included a picture of my family in front Launch Pad 39A where most of the Apollo spacecrafts took off.
Bill Duncan <[email protected]>
Bill is Executive Director of STEMaction, Inc., a Maryland non-profit that ignites and nurtures a lifelong passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics through events and activities for youth and their families. STEMaction is a Maryland partner for FIRST, one of the world's leading STEM programs inspiring K-12 students through robotics competitions. Bill was Maryland Regional Director for FIRST from 2010 - 2014. Prior to discovering FIRST as a VISTA (AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America), Bill was a marketing and product management professional with more than 20 years of executive experience in the telecommunications industry.
David Gertler <[email protected]>
David Gertler not only supports STEM, he's actually lived it: he's been a research scientist, technology executive, electrical and systems engineer and an award-winning crypto-mathematician. For David, STEM education fuses two of his lifelong passions: Math and Education. In addition to his career working in STEM-related industries, David has been a long-time advocate for improvements to educational instruction and support for STEM-related career choices.
David is the founder of the Rensselaer Alumni Network, which taps into over 95,000 engineers worldwide. RAN's mission is to help create a structure for engineers to network for professional and career growth. David also started a Math Mentoring program to assist undergraduates learn about career opportunities and has given several talks about careers in STEM, most notably, "What Can You Do With a Math Degree?"
David earned four degrees: a Bachelor's in Mathematics from Rensselaer, a Master's in Applied Mathematics also from Rensselaer, a Master's in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins and an MBA from The Wharton School. He's led turnarounds of major software and technology companies, helped guide start-ups through rapid growth and currently consults to Venture Capital, Private Equity and early-stage CyberSecurity and technology companies to provide guidance in strategy, investments, operations and growth.
Most recently, David was fortunate enough to be joined by, family, friends, and people he admires to receive the 2014 William Schaefer Helping People Award for Howard County due to his dedication to the community.
David is the founder of the Rensselaer Alumni Network, which taps into over 95,000 engineers worldwide. RAN's mission is to help create a structure for engineers to network for professional and career growth. David also started a Math Mentoring program to assist undergraduates learn about career opportunities and has given several talks about careers in STEM, most notably, "What Can You Do With a Math Degree?"
David earned four degrees: a Bachelor's in Mathematics from Rensselaer, a Master's in Applied Mathematics also from Rensselaer, a Master's in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins and an MBA from The Wharton School. He's led turnarounds of major software and technology companies, helped guide start-ups through rapid growth and currently consults to Venture Capital, Private Equity and early-stage CyberSecurity and technology companies to provide guidance in strategy, investments, operations and growth.
Most recently, David was fortunate enough to be joined by, family, friends, and people he admires to receive the 2014 William Schaefer Helping People Award for Howard County due to his dedication to the community.
Jeff Friedhoffer <[email protected]>
Jeff Friedhoffer has been interested in science as long as he can remember. He received a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware. He is a member of the senior staff at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, having conducted research on topics related to the internet, including protocols and network measurements. Prior to MIT, he worked in an agency of the Department of Defense for 35 years developing communications systems and for two years, was the Techinical Director of the Technology and Systems Directorate of that agency. He is past Secretary of the IEEE Region 2, and past chair of the Baltimore Section and past chair of the Baltimore Chapter of COMSOC. He served as the chair of the Globecom 07 and Globecom 09 Designers and Developers Forum and helped organize the same forum for Globecom 08.
Joel Goodman <[email protected]>
Founder of the Celestial Searchers, a children’s astronomy club in Howard County and the Observatory Chair of the Howard Astronomical League, Joel also teaches at HCC and coordinates programming in the NatureSphere/Planetarium at the Robinson Nature Center. Following the enthusiasm displayed by parents and students over the past 15 years, Joel is committed to promoting and supporting astronomy and space education in the area.
Kathleen Lilly <[email protected]>
Kathy Lilly is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the Science, Engineering and Technology Division of Howard Community College. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and worked as Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. She began working at HCC as an Adjunct Faculty teaching Chemistry in 2001 and has also worked a substitute teacher in the Howard County Public School System. Kathy and her family live in Oakland Mills in Columbia, Maryland.
Melvin D. Smith II <[email protected]>
iseescience.weebly.com OR www.linkedin.com/in/melvindsmithii/
Founder of SciSense: provider of tutoring, science/inquiry project coaching, and after school programming.
The earliest fascination for science came through watching my Dad review his medical cases using the pictures he had on slides. All through school I loved the fact that aspects of the world around me could be explained through a series of well planed out steps and investigations to be shared with others for validation or discussion. My intense love of science has been strengthened over the years through the natural incorporation of other disciplines into the science classroom and watching students enjoy the PRACTICAL approach to learning.
Founder of SciSense: provider of tutoring, science/inquiry project coaching, and after school programming.
The earliest fascination for science came through watching my Dad review his medical cases using the pictures he had on slides. All through school I loved the fact that aspects of the world around me could be explained through a series of well planed out steps and investigations to be shared with others for validation or discussion. My intense love of science has been strengthened over the years through the natural incorporation of other disciplines into the science classroom and watching students enjoy the PRACTICAL approach to learning.
Frances Turner <[email protected]>
Frances Turner is an instructor of Biology at Howard Community College. As a course coordinator she manages the presentation of all General Biology I courses, facilitates the biology honors seminar, and previews and selects departmental course resources. In addition, she reviews and revises departmental course policies and procedures and hires and supervises adjunct faculty. She serves in several leadership teams and actively participates in STEM initiatives in Howard County. She holds a graduate degree in Molecular Science at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.