Leadership - Science ATL

Leadership - Science ATL
Science ATL Leadership
Board of Directors
Meisa Salaita, PhD
Co-Founder
Founding Board Member
Jordan Rose
Co-Founder
Founding Board Member
Sarah Peterson, PhD
Co-Founder
Founding Board Member
Cheryl Kortemeier
Board Chairperson (member since 2019)
Shawan Allen
Board Member since 2025
Adi Bates
Board Member since 2025
Kenneth Carter, PhD
Board Member since 2026
Tjuan Dogan, PhD
Board Member since 2019
Jamal Jessie
Vice Chairperson & Board Member since 2019
Ernest Ngirimana
Treasurer and Board Member since 2025
Emma Palmer
Secretary and Board Member since 2022
Leslie Roberts
Board Member since 2024
Anthony J. Saul
Board Member since 2023
Staff
Meisa Salaita, PhD
Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director
Jordan Rose
Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director
AJ Chestnut Raines
School & Youth Programs Manager
Tysheonia Edwards
School & Youth Programs Coordinator
Danielle Freeman
Festival Administrative Assistant
Alvaro McRae
Volunteer & Data Manager
Leslie Townsell
Public Events Manager
Operations Support
Nature Navigators Guide: Lance Love
Discovery Docents: Lucy Cronin-Golomb, Jonah McDonald, Heidi Schindler
Communications Support: Swetha Sharma
School & Youth Program Facilitators: Ashley Nylin, Antonio Ellis, Antonio Semeco, Eric Knapp, Greg Crafter, Jason Raines
Interns: Joanna Yao, Madison Mobley, Nigel Hepburn II, Riya de Datta
Special Thanks To:
GSU Motion Design Students
Professional Services
Marketing and Media Relations:
Lenz Marketing, Inc.
Evaluation:
Georgia Tech CEISMC
Catalayst Consulting Group
Expo Management:
Destination South Meetings & Events
Development:
Purpose Possible
Creative:
Lenz Marketing, Inc.
Dan Murdoch
B:Complex Creative
Legal:
Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Website:
Lenz Marketing, Inc.
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Kenneth Carter
Board Member since 2026
Dr. Kenneth Carter is Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Oxford College of Emory University and the founding director of the Emory University Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement. He served as the interim dean of Oxford College from 2022-2023. A graduate of Oxford College and Emory University, Carter received an MA and PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan. After completion of his doctoral work, he also earned an MS in psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University and gained board certification as a clinical psychologist. He is the author of several textbooks including Psychopathology: Understanding Psychological Disorders (Cambridge University Press) and the forthcoming Living Psychology (SAGE Publications). He has published in both academic and lay publications, translating psychology research into engaging everyday language. His articles have been published in magazines such as Psychology Today and Women’s Health, and he has appeared on news programs such as CNN Tonight, NPR’s: ShortWave, All Things Considered, and NBC’s Today show. The psychology of thrill-seeking is the current focus of Dr. Carter’s research. He has delivered TEDx talk on thrill-seekers and is the host of Mind of a Motorhead an NBC Sports web series that examines the personalities of motorsport athletes. His most recent book is Buzz!: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies (Cambridge University Press). When not teaching, speaking, or writing, Dr. Carter prefers reading and relaxing on the beach rather than wingsuit flying or BASE jumping.
What wows you about science?
The human brain packs more than 100 trillion neural connections into a three-pound organ. That’s more connections than there are stars in our galaxy.
Shawan Allen
Board Member since 2025
Shawan
is a community impact manager at Cox Enterprises, where she leads employee volunteer engagement, builds partnerships with nonprofit organizations, and develops strategies that support community impact across the company. With more than 15 years of nonprofit and corporate experience, she has designed accessible volunteer programs and strengthened relationships with local and national organizations.
Shawan
earned a Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Georgia.
Shawan
is a Disney nerd who loves to read mysteries and can be found cheering on the Bulldogs during football season.
What wows you about science?
The possibility that some of the water we drink could be older than the Sun is wild to think about!
Ernest Ngirimana
Treasurer & Board Member since 2025
Ernest Ngirimana, MBA, serves as Chief Financial Officer for Emory Healthcare’s Physician Group Practice, overseeing financial strategy and performance for the Physician Division. With extensive experience in healthcare finance, Ernest previously held CFO and senior leadership roles at Temple Health, Oishei Children’s Hospital, UPMC, and Allegheny Health Network, driving significant revenue growth and operational improvements. Recognized as a “40 Under Forty” honoree by the Philadelphia Business Journal, he holds an MBA and Bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University and is an active member of ACHE and HFMA. Ernest is widely respected for his strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and commitment to health equity and institutional growth.
What wows you about science?
I am always wowed by how science can always explain the why and how behind everything we touch, see, feel, and even think.
Adi Bates
Board Member since 2025
Adi Bates is a social media, design, and marketing professional with a passion for creative storytelling and brand positioning. She has more than 15 years of experience supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations to effectively communicate with target audiences. Adi currently works as Director of Marketing for Purpose Possible, a consulting firm supporting mission-driven organizations with fundraising, organizational strategy, strategic philanthropy, and more. She leads marketing and communications for the firm by offering a range of strategy, social media, branding, and design expertise.
Adi lives in Decatur and enjoys traveling, sewing, dancing, and family time.
What are you curious about?
I’m curious what happens in the brain when we have an “aha” moment.
Leslie Townsell
Public Events Manager
Leslie is a scientist, educator, and public engagement specialist with over a decade of experience creating community-centered science programming. As Science ATL’s Public Events Manager, she brings a passion for curiosity-driven, inclusive experiences to the Atlanta Science Festival and year-round outreach initiatives.
Before joining Science ATL, she led events focused on inclusive excellence and academic engagement in higher education at the University of Georgia. Her work prioritizes accessibility, collaboration, and deep community connection, especially with groups historically excluded from science spaces.
A native of metro Atlanta, her love for science was sparked by childhood visits to aquariums and zoos. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Spelman College and an M.S. in Biology from Clark Atlanta University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Marine Science, where her research focuses on the effects of climate variability on coastal ecosystems in the South Atlantic Bight.
Outside of work, she enjoys swimming, SCUBA diving, trying new foods, reading, and traveling. She is passionate about cultivating wonder, equity, and connection through science—and hopes to inspire the next generation of Black scientists, especially young women, to dive into discovery.
What are you curious about?
I’m curious about how octopuses use their nine brains and thousands of suction cups to solve problems and interact with their environment. Some can open jars, escape tanks, and even play with toys. Honestly, if octopuses had thumbs, they’d probably take over the world!
Leslie Roberts
Board Member since 2024
Leslie is the Director of Alumni Relations for the College of Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology. In this role, she partners closely with the College’s Development team to engage alumni across the country and build a pipeline of future major gift supporters while also expanding the network of local corporate partners interested in mentoring and hiring our students. She has been integral to the partnership with the College’s career education program, working creatively to engage alumni with students and faculty. Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Leslie spent 13 years at Columbia University leading and executing over 150 annual events and generating $7.1M in revenue.
What about science wows you?
I am wowed by science, because it has a specific role, as well as a variety of functions for the benefit of our society. Science creates knowledge, improves education and increases the quality of our lives.
Anthony J. Saul, FACHE
Board Member since 2023
Anthony Saul serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Grady Health System,. He joined Grady in 2019 as the Senior Vice President of Finance. With over 23 years of experience in healthcare finance and operations, Saul has held CFO roles at LCMC Health and Ochsner Health System in New Orleans as well as Controller roles within the Catholic Health West system.
Saul holds an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Memphis and is a board-certified fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
What about science wows you?
As I’ve grown, science went from an icky thing as a kid, to a fascination as my appreciation for the greatness of science has expanded. I’ve been involved in STEM programs as an advocate and parent of Stem kids for the last 7 years and the wonders, especially of the complexities of the human anatomy have left me in AWE.
Tysheonia Edwards
School & Youth Programs Coordinator
Tysheonia joined Science ATL in 2023 as the School & Youth Programs Coordinator. She developed a passion for nonprofit and youth development when she was an AmeriCorps member working for United Way of Greater Atlanta in their Homelessness Department. During her time in AmeriCorps she worked on numerous projects at United Way but her most exciting project was working with high school youth that come from nontraditional backgrounds. When she’s not working, she’s either traveling or trying out a new restaurant. Tysheonia is committed to developing the next generation of compassionate leaders with Science ATL.
What wows you about science?
Science can be fun because it is a challenge. If everything in life were easy, then life would be boring. We have many questions, and the fact that science and research can help us answer these questions offers a firm understanding of the world. My curiosity, which manifests itself as a fascination with the world excites me about science.
Jess Hunt-Ralston
Board Member since 2022
Jess Hunt-Ralston is director of communications for the College of Sciences at Georgia Tech, home to 3,000 students and 500 faculty and researchers across six internationally ranked schools. A Georgia Tech alumna, Jess previously led communications for Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech, and served as a consultant for an international slate of non-profits, start-ups, and small businesses.
What are you curious about?
Our mission at Georgia Tech is focused on improving the human condition through science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. Amid the Anthropocene, I’m curious to explore how we can best develop symbiotic tools and ecosystems that help humans, animals, and plants on this planet thrive and evolve — together.
Alvaro McRae
Volunteer Manager
Alvaro McRae joined the Science ATL team in 2022 as the Volunteer Manager. Volunteers are vital to Science ATL’s vision of making Atlanta a science city and cultivating an equitable community through the wonder of science. Alvaro leads in developing a robust volunteer program at Science ATL with over 7+ years of experience in volunteer management and building community partnerships across Atlanta. He developed a passion for service to the community after serving as an AmeriCorps NCCC volunteer, where he completed service projects dedicated to hunger relief at the Utah Food Bank, disaster relief in St. Bernard’s Parish, Louisiana and an after-school education program at Pacific Elementary in Sacramento. His other interests include serving as a poll worker for Dekalb County, exploring new hiking trails, indulging in Revolution Doughnuts, and enjoying time with his growing family and friends.
What wows you about science?
When you think about it, science is ALL AROUND US. It helps us in our everyday lives from the technologies we use at our fingertips, advances in medicine, conserving our environment, to unlocking mysteries of the world around us. Science is ingrained in our culture, like that of my Mayan ancestry that developed one of the most advanced civilizations in the Americas through their expertise in astronomy and math. It is part of the reason I am here today and will be the reason my kids can thrive tomorrow.
Dana Buskovitz
Public Events Manager
Dana is a scientist by training, and an educator by heart. Since starting her career in STEM education in 2015, Dana has always had a love for sharing science with anyone who will listen through teaching, programming, community outreach, and sharing with science lovers everywhere. Dana is a Clemson grad (Go Tigers), a dog mom, and a lifelong learner! Catch her out and about at one of ScienceATL’s many public events, or taking her dogs for a walk in the park.
What are you curious about?
I am curious about all of the species of animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, etc that we haven’t even discovered yet! There are so many species that science has yet to discover, and still there is speciation occurring in nature over time- thousands added to the list of unknown every year. There will always be life out there that nobody has discovered yet!
Brooke Rose
School & Youth Programs Facilitator
Brooke Rose is a dedicated, life-long learner who is passionate about STEAM education. Brooke is a proud Metro Atlanta Teach for America alum and was appointed as a Science Ambassador for the Georgia Department of Education in 2019. She has a background in teaching middle school and high school gifted Math and Science with 10 years of experience. Brooke has a Master’s in Education from Kennesaw State University in Instructional Technology which inspired her to expand her reach beyond the classroom, impacting even more students. She currently coaches teachers on the effective use of instructional technology. In addition to teaching and coaching in the public school system, she has successfully tutored hundreds of kids all over the world for the SAT and ACT, helping them go to the college or university of their dreams. Brooke’s teammates describe her as a dependable leader, a hard worker, and their favorite Harry Potter Nerd.
What are you curious about?
I am most curious about regeneration. The natural restoration of cells, tissues, and organs has always been fascinating to me. This can have a major impact on modern medicine and positively impact so many lives!
Tiffany Jones, EdD
School & Youth Programs Facilitator
Dr. Tiffany Jones is an educator passionate about connecting students with the amazing world of STEM. For almost 10 years, Tiffany has worked in the field of science education, teaching by day and volunteering on weekends to help students find their love of STEM. Tiffany currently teaches at South Cobb High School, serves as an assessment writer for the Georgia Science Olympiad, and volunteers to judge at many metro-Atlanta events at all levels. She also serves the Cobb-Paulding Regional Science Fair as a judge and assists with elementary science fairs as needed. Tiffany is involved with Science ATL’s Georgia Chief Science Officers (CSO) program as a site advisor and lead advisor to support CSOs and their teachers as they learn how to project their voice into the STEM conversations in Atlanta. Tiffany is also a proud Mom who does many of the items listed above from beside a softball field or dance studio. Her absolute greatest joy in life comes from watching her daughter discover the wonders of science and engineering from her worldview.
What science-connected piece of Atlanta do you love the most and why?
I love the community of adults that give up hours upon hours of their time to assist the next generation in exploring questions and creating solutions. Atlanta has a robust and diverse community of STEM professionals who share their knowledge with students because they enjoy it. I will always be thankful for the engineers, medical professionals, scientists, data analysts, researchers, and many others that have poured into my students just because the students reached out to ask them about their research/practice/etc. It’s absolutely beautiful.
Zaid Irfan
Storytelling Intern
Zaid’s curiosity for science began at a young age when he was exposed to the concept of a
human cell and the intricacies associated with it; he has since committed to unveiling that
curiosity for over a decade and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Neuroscience at Georgia State University. Zaid extends and promotes his interest in science and health disparities through the three organizations for which he is an executive officer at his academic institute, one of which he Co-Founded. Besides his affinity toward science, he enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with his family and friends in his free time.
What are you curious about?
I am curious about the behavior of silver eels.
Isabela Galoustian
Data Management Intern
Isabela Galoustian is a 3rd year undergraduate student at Emory University majoring in Materials Science and minoring in Applied Math. Science education aimed to excite has had a profound impact on their childhood and life, and they’re passionate about fostering the spirit of curiosity in younger students. They’ve worked on previous projects related to educational outreach including Citizen Science and Emory Science Olympiad, and are currently a member of the Weeks Soft Matter Physics lab at Emory studying characteristics of random close packing! In their free time they like to lift and take walks in nature.
What about science wows you?
Archimedes’ Principle was discovered with nothing but a body and a bathtub! There’s so much we can find out just by strategically using and understanding the world around us.
Paula Garcia Todd
School & Youth Programs Facilitator
With a steadfast desire to help patients through pharmaceutical technologies, Paula Garcia Todd has made significant contributions in drug delivery through her work at Dow Chemical, DuPont, and now IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances) for the past 18 years. As a Global Applications, Development & Innovation leader, she leads a team of 40 scientists and engineers to research and create patented polymer innovations to solve critical formulation issues for pharmaceutical companies around the world. Paula is passionate about introducing STEM to children. She has volunteered on boards and organizations focused on increasing the number of female and under-represented students in STEM fields, especially engineering, for the past decade. She has been active in diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy within industry, working through women’s and Latinx employee resources groups to create awareness and improve company cultures. In 2019, she was named a AAAS IF/THEN® Ambassador by the American Association for the Advancement of Science for her devoted work in STEM outreach and was featured in a life-sized statue exhibit of outstanding women in STEM fields at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC. Paula collaborated with Science ATL in 2021 to co-create the
STEM Professional School Partnership program
. Recently, she was named “Woman of the Year in Engineering” by Women in Technology and received a “Luminary Award” by Great Minds in STEM.
What wows me about science?
I love that bringing together diverse personal experiences and backgrounds can enrich innovations and make them impactful for more people around the globe. Representation matters in science!
Mya Finley
Youth Ambassador Program Intern
Mya Finley is currently a senior at Georgia State University, getting her bachelors in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in data analytics. She is originally from Memphis, TN but decided to permanently call Atlanta, GA home. Her dream career is to work as a Data Analyst within the healthcare field. In her spare time she likes to go to movies and is an avid horror fan. As a Youth Ambassador Intern, she hopes to encourage young students within the Atlanta area to find a passion for STEM.
What are you curious about?
I am curious about the effects that overconsumption, especially when it comes to clothes, will have on the environment in the coming decades. There has never been a time in human history where many people globally have bought so many clothes, for so cheap. I am also curious about if there will be a time when we, essentially, run out of space to put the things we consider trash and how that will be handled.
Julia Regeski
Storyteller
Julia Regeski is a writer and content strategist who believes that everyone’s story deserves to be told in a way that’s intentional, compelling, and authentic. Her work experience has been focused on advancing meaningful social causes, and includes advocating on behalf of Georgia’s environmental resources and bringing together nonprofits in the wake of natural disasters. When she’s not using her communications skills to try to make the world a better place, you’ll likely find her reading, practicing yoga, or adventuring in the great outdoors.
What science-connected piece of Atlanta do you love the most and why?
All the bioswales! These sneaky pollutant filters are leveraging native flora to improve water quality and beautify Atlanta neighborhoods. I love seeing organizations like Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Trees Atlanta teaming up for projects like this, and can’t wait to see more popping up and our stormwater getting cleaner.
Vince Ho
Board Member since 2022
As a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group, Vince leads project teams focused on supply chain improvements and optimization for retail, CPG, and food and beverage clients. His scope of work aims to create efficiencies and streamline planning and delivery capabilities to ensure high levels of customer service while managing costs. Before his time with Boston Consulting Group, Vince worked in the Beverage division at Nestle USA, leading planning and forecasting efforts for a variety of products in the portfolio. As a native of Los Angeles, Vince holds degrees in Biomedical and Industrial Engineering from USC. He also earned his MBA from USC Marshall School of Business. He and his wife, Natalie, have a daughter and two cats here in metro Atlanta. Outside of work and family, Vince enjoys playing golf, watching sports, and cooking.
What wows you about science?
Technology and methodology may evolve and get more sophisticated over time, but they are often foundationally rooted in a discovery from the past which makes science the storybook that never ends – it just adds chapters.
Crystal Lazarus
Board Member since 2022
Crystal Lazarus is a Senior Director of Planning & Strategy at Goodwill of North Georgia. She serves as the Controller for HealthMPowers, a nonprofit, promoting healthy habits to build a better future for all children. She has an extensive career working in various financial leadership capacities at Georgia EMA/ Homeland Security, Atlanta Regional Commission, Emory University, and Union City Government. Crystal has managed hundreds of millions of dollars by implementing transparency, innovation, and best practices to comply with GAAP, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and other ordinances/regulations. Her educational endeavors include a Master’s degree in Government and Nonprofit Accounting from Rutgers University, a Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Georgia State University, a Finance Officer Certification from the University of Georgia and other certifications. Crystal currently serves as the President of a chartered stock group and a volunteer tax preparer for the IRS. Crystal was instrumental in helping her former employer earn the coveted Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting from the GFOA.
What wows you about science?
I’m always amazed at how science is used to uncover the mysteries of the past and future. I appreciate the use of science to better understand the history of our people and solve mysteries related to crime. I also appreciate the use of science in modern genetics to provide future insight into our health.
Emma Palmer
Secretary and Board Member since 2022
Emma Palmer is the Manager of Strategic Operations at PDI Technologies. She is part of the thriving Atlanta gig economy working as a freelance Equity Stage Manager at theaters across the metro region and sits on the Board of Directors at Synchronicity Theatre.
Before joining PDI Technologies, Emma was Director of Operations for the Economic Development Division at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Emma graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in Musical Theatre. An Atlanta native, she lives on the Westside with two cats, Sampson and Ann Perkins.
What are you curious about?
Emma is curious about the science of art. All creatives love “how stuff works” and we pour that curiosity into art, architecture, digital media, dance, theatre, music, and more!
Lucy Cronin-Golomb
Content Manager, Science Scene Calendar
Lucy Cronin-Golomb is currently working towards her PhD in psychology at Emory University. She is especially curious about learning and memory. Her interest in learning and memory was piqued during her time as research assistant at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, where she studied the brain basis of reading and language.
Now, she is interested in how our ideas, thoughts, and beliefs about the world develop over time. She wants to know more about how kids and adults grow their knowledge base- How do kids learn differently than adults? How do people choose what they want to learn? How does memory develop over time? These are just a few of the questions Lucy is pursuing in her studies.
Lucy is passionate about making science accessible to everyone. She wants to share her love for finding out the “why” and is especially enthusiastic about getting kids of all ages engaged with and excited about science! Lucy is a National Institutes of Health T32 fellow.
What makes me curious?
I am curious about baseball sabermetrics (stats about baseball- big Red Sox fan over here!) and cephalopods (they’re so cool!! If I could do another Ph.D. it would be in cephalopod research).
Sarah Strassler
Digital Content Contributor
Sarah Strassler is a Biochemistry PhD student at Emory University, working in a structural biology lab to understand how enzymes and RNAs interact with one another in our bodies. Her passion for science communication began while serving as Peace Corps Volunteer where she enjoyed helping students make sense of the “magic” in the world around them through science. Sarah is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and an ARCS Scholar.
What wows you about science?
I am constantly amazed at how understanding the science behind the most mundane moments in our life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary!
Kristen Clayton
Public Events Coordinator
Kristen Clayton is a nonprofit professional with experience focusing on the arts sector and is fascinated by the intersection of science, art, community organization, placemaking, and education. Kristen values creativity and curiosity and their ability to build a bridge between art and science. As Science ATL’s Public Events Coordinator, she is responsible for planning and executing a creative slate of recurring events and in assisting in planning the Atlanta Science Festival. With a MA in Nonprofit Management and Arts Administration focusing on art and nature from the University of Oregon, her experience includes program development, research, and evaluation for the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Contemporary, and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.
What science-connected piece of Atlanta do you love most?
I love the city’s ability to intermingle science and culture. In form and function, Atlanta has a beautiful way of mixing the cityscape and local happenings with nature, especially in our understanding and fascination with plants, creating a kind of natural culture.
Susan Lozier, PhD
Board Member Since 2021
Susan Lozier is Dean and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair in the College of Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology. Dean Lozier leads more than 2,500 students and 500 faculty and researchers across six internationally ranked schools in the College of Sciences at Georgia Tech. She is a physical oceanographer who researches the ocean’s role in climate variability and climate change, and the role that ocean physics plays in those expected changes. She currently serves as President of the American Geophysical Union and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is a past president of The Oceanography Society, as well as the international lead for the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP) observing system.
What wows you about science?
What wows me about science is its ability to astound century after century. Scientific discovery never gets old!
Melanie Lawrence
Board Member Since 2021
Melanie Lawrence is Senior Associate Dean of Finance, Operations, & Information Technology and Chief Business Officer at Oxford College of Emory University. With previous roles in Emory University’s School of Law, and central research administration, Melanie has leveraged her knowledge and expertise in finance, student services, strategy, and operations, to enhance business operations in higher education.
Melanie is an Atlanta native and a proud alumnus of Emory University, having received her Executive MBA from Emory’s Goizueta Business School and serving as Treasurer of the Executive Women of Goizueta Alumni Board. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History, Economics, and Geography from Georgia State University.
What wows you about science?
I love learning, I consider myself a perpetual student to soak up as much knowledge from all places as I can get. What wows me most about science is that it is so simply the search for knowledge. We are all scientists if we are willing to continually test our own hypotheses with the goal of always wanting to learn.
AJ Chestnut Raines
School & Youth Programs Manager
AJ Chestnut Raines is a writer and educator with a background in chemistry, mathematics and middle grades science. For over 10 years, AJ has worked in the field of STEM education. Beginning as an extracurricular instructor, AJ’s in classroom experiences led her to find her niche in curriculum and instructional design. Her interdisciplinary writings have aided in program development for science education firms, education certifications for public schools, and grant procurement for non-profit organizations. As School & Youth Programs Manager at Science ATL, AJ leads the Georgia Chief Science Officers (
CSO
) and STEM Professional School Partnership (
SPSP
) programs.
What are you curious about?
I am most curious about sustainable farming. I love hydroponic and Aquaponic systems and believe they will change how fresh food gets to people living in food deserts. I am excited to see how these systems spread on a global level.
Jamal Jessie
Vice Chairperson and Board Member since 2019
As the Regional Lead for Workforce Development at Google Data Centers, Jamal is responsible for creating strategies that bolster Google’s talent pipeline. He achieves this by fostering partnerships with educational institutions, workforce development organizations, industry associations, and government agencies, with the goal of maximizing available funding and educational opportunities for talent development.
Prior to joining Google, Jamal dedicated 10 years to Georgia Power, where he developed strategies to benefit both the company and the communities it served. Jamal also proudly served 20 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer in 2014. During his naval career, he was stationed on various U.S. Navy warships and served as a project manager. Jamal holds a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University and Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Management from Southwestern College.
What about science wows you?
The endless possibilities. What discoveries will impact and change lives? How will new technology affect our world as we know it? Science delivers research and information to many of our current problems and future challenges.
Tjuan Dogan, PhD
Board Member Since 2019
Dr. Tjuan Dogan is a philanthropic and social impact strategist with a passion for education and curiosity about the intersection of art, science, and technology. She has held leadership positions with Coursera, Emory University, IBM, the Arthur Blank Family Foundation, and the Southern Education Foundation, and is a recipient of the Leaders in Corporate Citizenship award. A native of South Carolina, she earned her PhD in education from the University of South Carolina, followed by a year-long fellowship at Harvard Business School; and recently earned a master’s in religion from Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
She is a super-fan of the championship-winning SC Gamecocks women’s basketball team, and enjoys live theater, golf, patio gardening, and making stained glass art.
What are you curious about?
I’m curious about the intersection of art and science. I love architecture, music, theater, visual arts and nature. Artistic expression + scientific exploration = an afternoon of wonder for me.
Jason Hoch
Founding Board Member
Jason is CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Wavland. Jason has over 20 years of experience with both major media companies and tech start-ups. Most recently, Jason served as President of Imperative Entertainment’s podcast division where he launched 23 new shows including Boomtown. Previously, as Head of New Initiatives and Executive Producer at HowStuffWorks, Jason launched three #1 podcast hits in 2018: ATLANTA MONSTER (with over 40 million downloads); its follow-up, MONSTER: THE ZODIAC KILLER; and BROKEN HARTS, a podcast collaboration with Glamour Magazine.
What are you curious about?
I’m curious about how humans continue to wrestle with science and technology that is more exciting, yet harder to understand than ever before. What is our capacity to embrace this over the next 100-500 years?
Sarah Peterson, PhD
Founding Board Member
Co-Founder
Sarah Peterson believes that wonder and curiosity have the power to bridge divides and bring diverse communities together. As a Co-Founder of Science ATL, she has been instrumental in launching the Atlanta Science Festival and strengthening its operations and programming over the years. Sarah brings together experience as a scholar and teacher of arts and humanities topics with an insatiable curiosity about the science underlying everything we do, see and use daily. As a Program Manager for GT Neuro, she is helping to advance the neuroscience and neurotechnology community at Georgia Tech and across Atlanta. In addition, she co-created
ImaginePhD
and works to advance the professional and career development of PhDs in all disciplines. She has a PhD in English Literature from Emory University.
What are you curious about?
I am endlessly fascinated and curious about the human brain and the nuances that make people experience the world in such dramatically different ways.
David Hartnett
Chairman of the Board (Founding)
As chief economic development officer for Metro Atlanta Chamber’s, David is responsible for leading a team focused on the recruitment, retention and expansion of companies and skilled talent within focused clusters e.g. corporate headquarters, bioscience, healthcare, IoT, smart city, cybersecurity, fintech, supply chain, eSports, and digital media/entertainment.
Before joining the Chamber, Hartnett served as the president and CEO of Maco Pharma (formerly United Pharma™) a privately held medical device/pharmaceutical company based in Duluth, Georgia, headquartered in Lille France. Prior to Maco Pharma, Hartnett was president and CEO of SteriFx Corporation, a specialty chemical company, contracted by U.S. Department of Defense (DARPA). Before SteriFx, he was the executive vice president of the North American headquarters of Given Imaging, Inc. (GIVN-NASDAQ). Under his leadership, the company commercialized the “PillCam” video capsule.
Hartnett is married with four sons, was raised on Coronado Island, California and is an active member of the Atlanta business community.
What science-connected piece of Atlanta do you love most?
With Atlanta’s unique combination of Fortune 500 headquarters, health organizations, and research institutions, we are positioned as the Center for Global Health, leading the country in scientific advancements in the Healthcare Ecosystem.
Jordan Rose
Founding Board Member
Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director
Jordan is committed to promoting science literacy and a sense of belonging in science for all. He loves supporting science teachers and empowering youth to lead change. Together with Meisa Salaita and Sarah Peterson, Jordan co-founded Atlanta Science Festival in 2014 and its parent organization, Science ATL. As a nonprofit leader, Jordan brings together schools, companies, and community organizations to improve equitable access to Atlanta’s myriad opportunities to learn and love science. Previously, Jordan led science education and community engagement initiatives at the Georgia BioEd Institute, the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, and the Emory College Center for Science Education, and was a 2021-22 Education Policy Fellow with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. He lives in Tucker and enjoys hiking and riding bikes, playing tennis, rooting for Atlanta United, beating his family at Wordle, and jamming on the ukulele. But not all at the same time.
What about science has totally wowed you?
There are these amazing parasitic flatworms that infect ant brains, and make the ants climb to the tips of grass where they are eaten by cows. Inside the cow’s gall-bladder the worms lay eggs, which get pooped out, eaten by snails, excreted in slime balls, which are (surprise!) eaten by ants, who are once again compelled to the grass-tops by the brain-dwelling worms. And the life cycle begins again. That’s
science
y’all.
Meisa Salaita, PhD
Founding Board Member
Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director
Meisa Salaita has made it her mission to help others see and appreciate the beauty of science by making it a part of everyday cultural experiences. Through her work founding and directing Science ATL, she spends her days convincing everyone else to fall in love with science as well. To that end, Meisa also writes, has produced radio stories, and hosted TV shows — all in the name of science. In addition to her work with Science ATL, Meisa is a producer for The Story Collider, a science storytelling podcast. Meisa has a Ph.D. in chemistry from Northwestern, and was recently named by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of 20 Women Who Mean Business in Atlanta.
What about science has totally wowed you?
I’m totally blown away by the periodic table of elements. It’s amazing how, even when early scientists had not yet discovered an element, they could predict its properties based on where it would be on the table.
Danielle Freeman
Festival Administrative Assistant
Danielle is an independent consultant with a focus on helping businesses improve costs, reduce waste and drive culture initiatives that deliver measurable results. She is also thrilled to be a member of the Science ATL team. With over 20 years of experience in the engineering and consulting space, she has supported various clients across industries, focusing on operational efficiency and team performance, working with names you know and love like Gatorade, J.M. Smucker, Safeway and Clorox during her career.
In addition to consulting work, she is passionate about volunteering and has numerous organizations in Metro Atlanta that she shares her time and expertise with. As a lover of science and technology, she is very fortunate to have worked with Science ATL since the very beginning and Is so proud to see how it has grown from then to now. Science ATL is her extended family, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She enjoys bringing continuous improvement concepts into the way we work at Science ATL and is looking forward to future festivals with all of you. If you want to hear some stories from the way back machine, hit her up. It is so fun to reminisce with an eye on continuing to cultivate an equitable community of lifelong learners who are connected and inspired by the wonder of science in metro Atlanta.
What science-connected piece of Atlanta do you love most?
My favorite science-connected aspect of Atlanta is the Atlanta Science Festival/Science ATL. It has introduced me to incredible people all over metro Atlanta, expanded my knowledge through unique events, and helped me discover more about my new city when I relocated for work here 12 years ago. There are so many ways in which Science ATL has enriched my life. For example, I’ve had the opportunity to share Science ATL’s mission on radio shows, television, and in classrooms full of future scientists to just name a few things. Despite its growth, many people are still discovering the festival for the first time each year. Watching Science ATL evolve has been a source of great pride for me, but I know there’s still more to do to fully realize its mission. Seeing it grow and be a small part of the journey has been amazing beyond words and for that reason, I love it the most.
Cheryl Kortemeier
Board Chairperson and Member since 2019
Cheryl Kortemeier has served as Executive Director of Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) for 12 years. The CVC supports companies in their strategic commitment to corporate social impact and community engagement. Previously (1998 – 2011), she was Director of Development and Communications at Trees Atlanta. Cheryl is Co-Chair of the EarthShare Georgia Advisory Board, Tri-Chair of the Partnership for Southern Equity’s Just Business Roundtable and also serves on the Advisory Board for the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at Georgia Tech.
What are you curious about?
I am curious about plants and animals that live in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean that we have not yet discovered.
Jason Wellman
Board Member since 2019
Jason is a Regional Operations Manager at Google, where he leads data center operations across the eastern United States and South America, including sites in Moncks Corner, SC; Lenoir, NC; Douglas County, GA; Widows Creek, AL; Clarksville, TN and Santiago, Chile.
Since joining Google in 2005, Jason has held various positions related to Google’s Data Center Infrastructure and Operations. During his time at Google, Jason has successfully led cross-functional teams supporting Google’s critical business operations.
He is a member of the Lithia Springs High School STEM Board of Directors, which helped the school receive its certification and distinction as Georgia’s seventh STEM school in May 2016. Jason is a former member of the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce’s Chairman’s Club and also served on the board of directors for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG).
A Texas native, he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stephen F. Austin State University. In 2005, Jason moved to Georgia with his wife and three children. The family currently resides in Milton, GA.
What science-connected piece of Atlanta do you love most?
I proposed to my wife at the Georgia Aquarium and it is now one of my family’s favorite places to visit.