Our Advisory Board |
Meet the Advisory Board
BioJam is visioned and driven by community members involved in our community, academic, and teen advisory boards. Board members consist of past BioJam Teen alumni, Community Educators, Community Leaders, Academics, and others who believe in the mission of BioJam.
Advisory Board
Deanna Gelosi (she/her)
Museum Educator, Tinkering Studio Deanna brings her background in science and art to design and facilitate hands-on tinkering experiences at the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio in San Francisco. |
C.N.E. Corbin (she/her)
Assistant Professor, Portland State University Dr. C.N.E. Corbin is an environmentalist and urban political ecologist. Her work examines how historical urban policies, current environmental practices, and gentrification processes impact residents in cities at the intersection or race, class, housing and access to green space. |
Ari Krakowski (she/her/they)
Learning Lab Director, Lawrence Hall of Science Dr. Krakowski has extensive expertise designing and researching youth learning experiences that translate cutting-edge STEM phenomena and practices to diverse audiences and learning contexts. She holds a doctorate in Molecular Cell Biology from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources from CSU Humboldt. |
Scott Evans (he/him)
Senior engineer, NASA/JPL At JPL Scott has been working for over 20 years on software that computes trajectories and navigates spacecraft in deep space. Before that, he taught astronomy at UCLA, Glendale College, and Santa Monica College. |
Aidee Guzman (she/hers)
Postdoctoral researcher, University of California, Irvine Dr. Aidee Guzman studies how agricultural management impacts biotic interactions (e.g. between plants, insects, and microbes) across spatio-temporal scales. Having deep family roots in agriculture, the overall goal of her research is to support farmers – especially those who are historically underserved and demonstrate ecological pathways to agricultural resilience. |
Itzel Hernandez (she/her)
Student, Linguistics and Anthropology, UCLA Itzel is currently studying at UCLA, majoring in Linguistics and Anthropology with a focus on Japanese. She is on the Layout/Design team at UCLA's La Gente Newsmagazine and part of the Digital Marketing Association. She hope to perform anthropological research for the Spring 2022 quarter. In her free time, Itzel loves to read, hike, and do yoga. |
Rodolfo Dirzo (he/him)
Professor of Biology, Stanford University Senior Fellow, WOODS Institute for the Environment Rodolfo has always loved and been fascinated by the natural world, especially the mechanisms that allow nature to create such an explosion of diversity of form and function and how we as humans have benefited from the ecological services/treasures all around us. He has dedicated his entire academic trajectory and professional life to the understanding of the mechanisms of life and the conservation of its beauty. |
Vanessa Garcia (she/her)
Lab Technician at ArcBio Alum, CSU Monterey Bay Vanessa recently graduated with a B.Sc. in evolutionary biology from CSU Monterey Bay and will commence PhD studies in bioinformatics and genomics at Penn State this fall. She is passionate about storytelling, science communication, mentoring youth, and building community. |
Kim Mesa, MBA (she/her)
Board President, Alliance for Youth Achievement Kim has designed, planned, and implemented hands-on STEAM programs rooted in Arts & Culture for East San Jose youth for more than 10 years. She has served as an elected School Board Trustee and is a consultant working with groups interested in establishing non-profit organizations. |
Anja Scholze, PhD (she/her)
Program Director for Biology +Design, Tech Interactive Anja is the Program Director for Biology + Design at The Tech Interactive, where she leads a team that imagines and develops experiences to empower everyone to explore biology as a creative and problem solving medium. She co-created the award-winning BioDesign Studio permanent exhibition and is director of The Biotinkering Lab, an experimental exhibit bio-makerspace. She holds a B.A in Neuroscience from Pomona College and a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from Stanford University. |
Nazshonnii Brown-Almaweri (she/her)
Program Manager of the Bioneers Indigeneity Program Nazshonnii Brown-Almaweri is a farmer and educator from West Oakland. She is the program manager of an Indigenous-led program within the Bioneers Collective Heritage Institute. She has worked as a STEM tutor, media educator, and program assistant for the American Indian Child Resource Center. As an educator, Nazshonnii has provided 6-12th graders with the space to thrive and learn about STEAM at the intersection of ancestral knowledge and their lived experiences in Oakland. Nazshonnii is passionate about STEAM education and advocates for exposure and opportunities for the historically excluded people, especially Black and Native youth. |
Abel Valdez (he/him)
Director of IT Projects, Tanimura & Antle, Salinas, CA Abel Valdez immigrated to the Salinas Valley from Mexico with his parents in 1986. His parents taught him at an early age to volunteer. By actively engaging in various associations, volunteer groups, and committees, he contributes to the betterment of the community. Currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Ventana Wildlife Society and is a member of the advisory board of BioJam Camp. With over 23 years of experience as the IT Director of Special Projects at Tanimura & Antle and a recent MBA, he brings a wealth of expertise to his work, always keeping the needs of farmers and laborers in mind. During his leisure time, he enjoys playing golf, going on motorcycle rides, and sharing pastrami sandwiches with his faithful canine companion, Finn.
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Maria Abdelazim, BioJam Alumni 2019, Undergraduate at N.Y.U.
Irene de Barraicua, Director of Opperations, Lideres Campesinas, Oxnard, CA
Lee Bishop, Biotechnology Lead,Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Dr.Bryan Brown, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, CA
Alexa Garcia, Associate Editor, Grow by Ginkgo Magazine, Boston, MA
Estela Gutierrez, Resource Recovery Technician Salinas Valley Recycles, Salinas, CA
Meley Haile, BioJam Alumni 2021, Oakland, CA
Leticia Hernandez, BioJam Instructor 2021 and 2022, Xinampa Program Coordinator, Founder and Manager of Natividad Creek Park Community Garden and Learning Lab, Salinas, CA
Gabriela Jaramillo, BioJam Alumni 2022, Salinas, CA
Soyang (Sonam) Nangsotsang, BioJam Alumni 2022, Oakland, CA
Mario Martinez-Munoz, Art Assistant, Live Oak School, San Francisco, CA
Melissa Ortiz, BioJam Instructor 2022, Xinampa Community Biolab Program Director and Co-Director of Salinas Community Science Workshop, Salinas, CA
Corinne Okada Takara, Nest Makerspace, Okada Design, former Xinampa Program Director, and BioJam Co-founder, Honolulu, HI
Ross Daniel Venook, Senior Lecturer in the Stanford Department of Bioengineering and direct Engineering at the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign
Irene de Barraicua, Director of Opperations, Lideres Campesinas, Oxnard, CA
Lee Bishop, Biotechnology Lead,Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Dr.Bryan Brown, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University, CA
Alexa Garcia, Associate Editor, Grow by Ginkgo Magazine, Boston, MA
Estela Gutierrez, Resource Recovery Technician Salinas Valley Recycles, Salinas, CA
Meley Haile, BioJam Alumni 2021, Oakland, CA
Leticia Hernandez, BioJam Instructor 2021 and 2022, Xinampa Program Coordinator, Founder and Manager of Natividad Creek Park Community Garden and Learning Lab, Salinas, CA
Gabriela Jaramillo, BioJam Alumni 2022, Salinas, CA
Soyang (Sonam) Nangsotsang, BioJam Alumni 2022, Oakland, CA
Mario Martinez-Munoz, Art Assistant, Live Oak School, San Francisco, CA
Melissa Ortiz, BioJam Instructor 2022, Xinampa Community Biolab Program Director and Co-Director of Salinas Community Science Workshop, Salinas, CA
Corinne Okada Takara, Nest Makerspace, Okada Design, former Xinampa Program Director, and BioJam Co-founder, Honolulu, HI
Ross Daniel Venook, Senior Lecturer in the Stanford Department of Bioengineering and direct Engineering at the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign
Former Advisory Board Members
Ali Andrews, Co-Founder and CEO, Shake Energy Collaborative, Stanford, CA
Karina Garcia, Stanford, CA
Rosa Maria Gordillo, Environmental Education Director, Veggielution, San Jose, CA
Anne Hu, BioJam Camp 2019 Alumni, BioJam Teen Mentor 2020, Freshman, Tufts University, MA
Ana Ibarra, Xinampa Community BioLab, Salinas, CA
Luis Xago Juárez, Actor, Playwright, Activist, Building Healthy Communities, Salinas, CA
Josh Land, Program Manager, OtherLab, San Francisco, CA
Marly LeSene, Administrative Services Manager, Bioengineering, Stanford, CA
Joseph Makokha, NeuroDesign Research, Stanford Engineering, CA
Omar Perez, Xinampa Community BioLab, Salinas, CA
Rubin Pizarro, Director, Dream Academy, Salinas, CA
Franco Sanchez, Career Specialist, Full Stack Software Development, Digital Nest, Salinas, CA
Trisha Sathish, BioJam Camp 2019 Alumni, BioJam Teen Mentor 2020, Cupertino, CA
Emily Takara, BioJam Camp 2019 Alumni, BioJam Teen Mentor 2020, Cupertino, CA
Izabella Tejada, BioJam Camp 2019 Alumni, BioJam Teen Mentor 2020, Prunedale, CA
Karina Garcia, Stanford, CA
Rosa Maria Gordillo, Environmental Education Director, Veggielution, San Jose, CA
Anne Hu, BioJam Camp 2019 Alumni, BioJam Teen Mentor 2020, Freshman, Tufts University, MA
Ana Ibarra, Xinampa Community BioLab, Salinas, CA
Luis Xago Juárez, Actor, Playwright, Activist, Building Healthy Communities, Salinas, CA
Josh Land, Program Manager, OtherLab, San Francisco, CA
Marly LeSene, Administrative Services Manager, Bioengineering, Stanford, CA
Joseph Makokha, NeuroDesign Research, Stanford Engineering, CA
Omar Perez, Xinampa Community BioLab, Salinas, CA
Rubin Pizarro, Director, Dream Academy, Salinas, CA
Franco Sanchez, Career Specialist, Full Stack Software Development, Digital Nest, Salinas, CA
Trisha Sathish, BioJam Camp 2019 Alumni, BioJam Teen Mentor 2020, Cupertino, CA
Emily Takara, BioJam Camp 2019 Alumni, BioJam Teen Mentor 2020, Cupertino, CA
Izabella Tejada, BioJam Camp 2019 Alumni, BioJam Teen Mentor 2020, Prunedale, CA