Steven C. Smith is the Education Specialist for NASA’s Educator Professional Development Collaborative at the Johnson Space Center. Steven helps to develop, package, and deliver professional development and STEM Engagement opportunities that translate the work and discoveries of NASA for use in the classroom. His work allows students to participate directly in NASA’s missions, and helps teachers make content more accessible for all their students. Steven has the great privilege of working with educators all over the country, helping them create culturally responsive lessons that will engage students that have previously felt left out of the amazing work NASA is doing.

He holds degrees from the University of Washington, Brigham Young University, Georgia College and State University, and Middle Georgia State University. Prior to his work with NASA, Steven spent 20 years in K-12 education coaching educators and teaching special education, regular education, honors, and AP students in Georgia, Washington State, and New Jersey.

Laura currently serves local school districts for Great Prairie Area Education Agency as a 21st Century Learning Specialist. She also works statewide with the AEA Learning Online team to roleout Iowa’s first ever digital PK-12 project board: Iowa’s Clearinghouse for Work Based Learning. Her profession focuses on helping teachers to modernize instructional practices for the 21st Century, embedding authentic learning experiences as curriculum based on community partnerships, and assisting local school districts with their redesigned learning environments to best serve students. Laura received her B.A. in Interdepartmental Health Studies: Emphasis on Multidisciplinary Sciences and her M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education from the University of Iowa. Laura acquired her principal licensure and Ed. Leadership Degree in May 2019 from the University of Iowa. Laura’s passion for teaching took her to Costa Rica in 2010 where she taught English and Science and then to Mount Pleasant, IA in 2013 to 2016 where she taught middle school Science in one of the first redesigned learning environments in Iowa as a result of the Iowa STEM initiative.

Kallie Moore manages the paleontology collection at the University of Montana and co-host the YouTube channel PBS Eons. She has also consulted for Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park on renovations to the DINOSAUR ride, as well as hosted a livestream for the newly opened Deep Time Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Kallie's debut nonfiction book, Tales of the Prehistoric World: Adventures from the Land of the Dinosaurs, releases this fall from Neon Squid books.

Title: Education Integration Lead, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters

Stephanie Yeldell serves as the education integration lead for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. She manages a portfolio of projects and partnerships engaging students and the academic community in NASA’s space technology development and missions, with a focus on supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across the agency.

She was awarded the NASA Headquarters Unsung Hero Award for her contributions to NASA STEM engagement in 2020 and previously received two NASA Headquarters group awards for innovation and teamwork. Prior to joining NASA in 2018, Stephanie worked in corporate partnerships at the National Park Foundation as well as development and public programming at the White House Historical Association. Throughout her career, Stephanie has focused on impactful storytelling and public private partnerships. She has a bachelor’s degree in art history from Furman University.

Amanda Adams is a STEM engagement coordinator supporting NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate as a government contractor. She is responsible for coordinating outreach efforts including activities related to promoting NASA’s First Woman graphic novel, facilitating STMD’s presence in NASA visitor centers, and supporting student challenges. Additionally, she is responsible for making connections and evaluating opportunities for partnerships in STEM and implementing partnership activities for the mission directorate.

Prior to joining the STMD Communications team, Amanda was a communications specialist supporting NASA’s Centennial Challenges at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Adams was responsible for developing and executing multi-faceted communications strategies including social media, media relations, and web content for the program’s crowdsourcing competitions.

Before joining the NASA contract in 2017, Adams served as the senior communications specialist responsible for employee communications efforts for DIRECTV’s customer retention group from 2013-2017. From 2008-2013, Adams was an admissions counselor for the University of Alabama in Huntsville where she managed a multi-state recruitment territory.

Adams resides in Madison, Alabama, and holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and a Master's of Business Administration from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been recognized with two NASA Silver Achievement Awards and a Silver Telly Award. In her spare time, she enjoys creating children’s stories with her two young daughters.

Gregory R. (Greg) Clements is the Chief of the Exploration Systems and Development Office, in the Exploration Research and Technology Programs Directorate at the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.

He is responsible for managing a diverse team of innovators and technology development experts that are performing research related to create the advanced Situ resource utilization (ISRU) capabilities needed for NASA’s future Artemis sustainable lunar presence and Mars exploration activities.

He manages a diverse team that is also the largest collection of PhDs at KSC. Major facilities enabling the office’s research include the Applied Chemistry Laboratory and KSC’s ‘Swamp Works’ innovation center.

Leslie Smith is a native of Vicksburg, MS. She began her career in 2009 at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) as a co-op student working in the Planning and Operations Branch. Leslie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tuskegee University in 2013. She was hired full time at MSFC shortly after graduation in the Propulsion Detailed Design Branch as a Mechanical Design Engineer. While working in Propulsion, she developed an interest in Systems Engineering since she was interested in seeing the overall, big picture of how everything interfaces together. Her first Systems Engineering assignment were the technical performance measures (TPMs) for Space Launch System (SLS) vehicles and missions. She then participated in the Marshall Systems Engineering Leadership Development Program and graduated in 2018 and is currently enrolled in Level II of the Program. Afterwards, Leslie accepted a position in the System Definition and Integration Branch where she was responsible for Ground Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for the SLS vehicles. Currently, Leslie works in the Human Landing System (HLS) Program Office where she serves as the Risk Reduction Integration Lead and Technical Manager for one of five HLS Providers for the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2). Leslie assists in managing day to day tasks such as HLS concepts, risk-reduction activities, requirements feedback and advancing the maturity of key technologies with the ultimate goal of helping NASA land the next generation on the Moon and establishing a long-term presence there. Leslie was honored to be included in the inaugural 35 under 35 of the International Institute of Space Commerce and NASA’s Equal Opportunity Employment Medal. Her hobbies include swimming, basketball, reading, volunteering with the community (mostly being a STEM advocate).

• Went to Pleasant View Elementary School (launched my first rocket there!)

• Was really interested in science as a kid

• Studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!)

• I now work at NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston

• I am training to be a mission controller for rocket engines & propulsion systems

Fun facts:

• I’m a private pilot and fly small planes

• I love skiing, surfing, and rock climbing (really anything outside)

• I almost burned down the corn field next to PVJHS with a model rocket when I was 11