Key staff and volunteers
Steve Bodley
Project Lead
Steve is a retired Physical Science Educator and a Solar Consultant at Palmetto Solar. After 33 years of classroom experience as a traditional and blended learning Physical Science educator in a central Pennsylvania school district, he has been trained in many educational initiatives, multiple waves of new technology in both hardware and software, and been fortunate enough to meet several thousand students and watch them grow to pursue a wide variety of careers. Recently, he presented at ISTE for two web-based software creators that focus on measuring school climate and improving student awareness of their own learning practices to reach their academic goals. he has served as a trainer for several new software programs that were selected by the district, grade level team leader and 15 years as the science department chairperson. His new focus as a retired classroom educator is to use his experience and look for ways to improve public education for students, educators, and communities as a whole by forming relationships with those that can make this goal a reality. Steve graduated from the Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Science in Education and Biology and General Science.
Peter Mecca
Project Lead
Peter Mecca is an Adjunct Professor of Biology at the University of Maryland Global Campus and a science education consultant. He served as a science teacher, administrator, consultant, and a faculty member at multiple universities. He was also the science coordinator for the US Department of Defense Schools, as well as a science educator at the George Mason High School in Falls Church, VA. Peter received his Ph.D. in ecology curriculum and instruction from The Pennsylvania State University, his master’s degree in environmental biology from Hood College in Maryland, and his B.S. in secondary education biology from The Pennsylvania State University.
Mazen Megahed
Lead, Integrated Science Design
Mazen Megahed is currently an R&D Engineer at Medtronic: a medical device engineering company specializing in diabetic, neurological, cardiac, and surgical care. He works on the software and hardware base of next generation diabetic insulin devices.
In Medtronic, Mazen leads Medtronic’s African Descent Network: an extra-company
organization tasked with developing career and cultural opportunities for Medtronic employees and grassroots organizations across Los Angeles. Mazen’s work has contributed to introducing young African students to STEM, educating Medtronic employees on cultural and professional practices, volunteer opportunities, mentorship of students, and recruitment of new graduates to Medtronic.
Before working at Medtronic, Mazen attended the University of Pittsburgh majoring in
mechanical engineering with a specialization in medical device design obtaining a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2021. In his time at the University of Pittsburgh Mazen has worked in the engineering departments of Heart I/O, Philips Healthcare, and Edwards Lifesciences developing AI to detect myocardial infarctions, analyzing defects in respirator equipment, and developing hemodynamic monitoring devices, respectively. At the University, Mazen conducted research into neurological tools to analyze addiction pathways and pediatric implantable devices for children with craniosynostosis.
Ann Miller
Executive Director
Ann Miller is currently the Executive Director at Science is Elemental, a science education 501C3 nonprofit. She is also the principal at A. Miller Analysis and Consulting LLC, Chief Program Officer at Chemists Without Borders, and a board member at the Montgomery County Coalition for Adult Literacy (MCAEL).
Ann worked as a Senior Research Scientist at CNA, a not-for-profit research and analysis organization from 1993-2021. Her work focused on analysis of training, education, readiness, logistics, and technology and has led numerous projects for the Navy and Marine Corps. Through CNA, she also provided technical support and analysis to the West Virginia Department of Education from 2007-2009.
In her work with Science is Elemental, Ann has interacted, either through consultation, teaching, or both, with several educational institutions. These include: The Springwell School in Silver Spring, MD, ArtPlayLearn, in Laurel, Maryland, Baltimore City Public Schools, and the Holland Brook Elementary School in Readington, NJ. She has developed integrated science/sports/art/music lessons and provided those lessons in school settings.
In addition to her board work and founding Science is Elemental, Ann’s experience with non-profit charitable organizations includes five Compass Pro Bono projects (2020-present), three Taproot projects (2020-2022), and providing analytic support to the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) Music and Dance Week (2015-2021). She uses her analytic capabilities to support decision making, staffing considerations, survey development, data collection and analysis.
For over twenty years, Ann has been involved as tutor, mentor, and coordinator of tutoring/mentoring activities for elementary school students.
Ann received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology, and her B.A. in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania
Board of Directors
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Dave Koster
Board of Directors, Secretary
David Koster is the Board Secretary for Science is Elemental, Inc. He is a retired US Air Force Officer, serving on active duty for 25 years as a communications/computer system maintainer, electronics/space systems instructor, communication systems planner, and space system operator. After leaving active service he played key roles as an operations research analyst for the Lockheed Martin Corporation and the Department of the Air Force.
David is an energetic advocate for science/technology instruction. He serves as a Science Educator with National Space Science and Technology team that operates the Mobile Earth and Space Observatory (MESO). He is a member of the Colorado Springs Astronomy Society, a technician trainer for the international Repair Café movement, and is a certified NASA-Partner Solar Eclipse Ambassador. In the recent past, he was a Board member of the Inventa Academy Charter School, and served as a DoD STARBASE mentor and teacher at Peterson Space Force Base.
Dave holds a Systems Engineering Bachelor of Science (SCL) degree from Wright State University, and a Master of Science in Space Operations/Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
Ann Miller
Board of Directors, Chair
See above
Mary Mohney
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Mary Mohney, CPA, CGMA, is the Treasurer for SIE. In addition to her work at SIE, Mary is the Executive Vice President, Finance at the American Geophysical Union. In this role, she is a member of the organization’s leadership team and oversees finance, accounting, human resources, project management, digital innovation and technology services. She is responsible for ensuring the financial health of the organization by implementing sound financial, business and risk management practices. Before joining AGU, she was the Society for Human Resource Management’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, the Director of Shared Services America for Baan, a global software company, and a Partner at Langan Associates, a public accounting firm specializing in not-for-profit organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University.
Mary is very active in the accounting and not-for-profit communities as a member of Association of International Public Accountants (AICPA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Council of Engineering and Scientific Societies Executives (CESSE) and the working group on Standards of Disclosure for the Investment Diversity Advisory Council. She also volunteers extensively in her community including holding past positions as a Girl Scout Leader, Treasurer for a local swim team, and held board positions for both a community pool and a small non-profit teaching life-skills to local teens.