Al possesses extensive and diverse experience in both educational and corporate sectors, demonstrating success as a presenter, thought leader, author, innovator, entrepreneur, and administrator at both K-12 and higher education levels. His work spans collaborations with K-12 school districts, higher education institutions, non-profits, and corporate education arms, focusing on culture transformation and visionary leadership. Al is skilled in curriculum and program analysis, adaptation, creation, and development.

Dr. Alan Lester is a distinguished figure with a multifaceted background that spans various fields. A celebrated rock climber in the 1990s, he achieved first ascents from the Colorado mountains to Yosemite National Park, which naturally led him to pursue geology at the University of Oregon, culminating in a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. His research focuses on utilizing advanced technologies such as paleomagnetism, stable isotopes, trace elements, and radiometric dating to explore the origin and evolution of the Rocky Mountains. Since the mid-1990s, Alan has held multiple roles at CU-Boulder, including Senior Instructor and Research Associate, earning numerous awards for his excellence in undergraduate education. Recently, he has concentrated on geoscience education with an emphasis on the history of science. Additionally, Alan has been a part-time commercial airline pilot for over a decade, providing a unique aerial perspective that enriches his teaching. This diverse experience contributes to his engaging storytelling ability, making his video lectures a vital component of his courses.

Alan has over 36 years of experience as an Information Technology professional, excelling in IT Leadership, Project Management, Database Administration, Systems Analysis and Design, IT Infrastructure Management, and Technical Architecture Direction. His career spans various industries including Corporate Finance, Manufacturing, Health Care, and Marketing. Most recently, he served as Director of Database Administration at Wiland Inc., a high-tech leader in Marketing Intelligence near Boulder, CO. In August 2017, Alan transitioned to academia as a Teaching Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Colorado Boulder. Alongside his industrial experience, he has taught Information Technology and Project Management courses for over 30 years at institutions such as Fontbonne University and Washington University in St. Louis. Additionally, Alan has developed corporate training on topics like Database Fundamentals and Big Data. He holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Information Management from Washington University in St. Louis.

Alex Fosdick is a highly regarded instructor in the University of Colorado Boulder’s Electrical, Computing, and Energy Engineering Program, known for his engaging teaching style. The ECEE department is nationally recognized for its excellence in both education and research, having produced thousands of successful engineers globally. With nearly a decade of industry experience, Alex specializes in software development for Embedded Systems, Systems-on-a-Chip, and Flash Storage technology. Outside of his academic responsibilities, he enjoys spending time with his Corgi, D’artagnan, and working on personal electronics projects.

Alexandra Padilla (she/her/ella) is a Research Associate and Program Manager for ADVANCEing FieldSafety at the University of Colorado Boulder. Originally from Maryland, she later moved to Puerto Rico, where she earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering with a minor in applied mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez. Her passion for environmental sciences led her to complete a Ph.D. in ocean engineering at the University of New Hampshire, focusing on the physical properties of gas bubbles in the ocean to enhance gas flux estimates. While at UNH, she co-led initiatives aimed at improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including creating a resource map for underrepresented minorities. During her postdoctoral work at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, she received the URGE (Unlearning Racism in the Geosciences) Postdoctoral Extension, collaborating with DEI leaders to advance inclusive practices within the institution. Alexandra is dedicated to supporting early-career researchers and underrepresented minorities in the geosciences by providing essential resources and fostering a welcoming community.

Alice is a mountain hydrologist and Rutherford Fellow at Aotearoa/New Zealand’s National Institute for Water and Atmosphere (NIWA), where she investigates how river flows and water supplies are impacted by climate change and intensified land use. Her research primarily focuses on mountain watersheds, particularly those dependent on snow and ice, which are rapidly evolving due to climate change, data scarcity, and their breathtaking wilderness. In addition to her research, Alice is an accomplished educator and risk manager, having spent hundreds of weeks as a senior field and wilderness medicine instructor for NOLS in remote locations worldwide. She developed the original version of FieldSafe in 2018 during her postdoctoral work at CIRES and has since contributed to its ongoing curriculum development, including serving as co-PI on the current MOOC project. Alice's most fulfilling experiences involve managing challenging field environments with supportive teams, fueling her commitment to creating opportunities for future scientists from diverse backgrounds.

Dr. Dougherty has held the position of J.R. Woodhull/Logicon Teaching Professor of Applied Mathematics since July 2012. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she serves as the Associate Chair for Applied Mathematics and is a faculty advisor for applied math majors and minors, as well as statistics minors. Dr. Dougherty also represents the CU campus for the Goldwater Scholarship and advises students participating in the international Mathematics Contest in Modeling.

Anne Gold is a Senior Associate Scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she also directs the CIRES Center for Education, Engagement, and Evaluation (CEEE). Her work centers on science education related to climate, water, polar regions, and geosciences, focusing on effective teaching and learning strategies. With a background as a climate scientist, Anne has conducted extensive fieldwork and mentored students while leading research experiences for undergraduates. She is dedicated to translating scientific knowledge into educational opportunities and emphasizes place-based education grounded in solid research. Anne has led numerous NSF, NOAA, and NASA-funded education projects and oversees a team of 24 professionals committed to creating meaningful educational experiences for diverse learners.

Dr. Bart Van Zeghbroeck is a professor of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he has been since 1990. He holds both an MS and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from CU. Before joining the university, he worked as a researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, CO, and at IBM in Rüschlikon, Switzerland. His expertise lies in semiconductor devices, and he is the author of the online textbook “Principles of Semiconductor Devices.” His research primarily focuses on III-V optoelectronic devices and circuits, silicon optoelectronics, silicon carbide bipolar transistors, and the growth of cubic silicon carbide. During his time away from CU, he managed several startup companies, including serving as CTO for PowerSiCel and CEO for BaSiC 3C. From 2009 to 2016, he directed the Colorado Nanofabrication Laboratory, part of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network. Dr. Van Zeghbroeck has published 114 peer-reviewed articles and holds 22 patents.

Ben Kirshner began his educational career in a youth program in San Francisco’s Mission District and has since developed a research agenda focused on empowering marginalized youth through partnerships with educational settings. His projects include design-based research with action civics teachers, intergenerational participatory research, and ethnographies of community-based youth organizing. Notably, in a study funded by the Spencer Foundation, he collaborated with secondary school teachers to create opportunities for students to discuss and address educational barriers like unsafe school climates and inadequate facilities. Currently, through his work with CU Engage, Ben aims to establish sustainable university-community research partnerships that tackle persistent public challenges and enhance education systems. His 2015 book, Youth Activism in an Era of Education Inequality, won the Social Policy award for Best Authored Book from the Society of Research on Adolescence.

Benjamin Spriggs earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering from the University of Wyoming and an Executive MBA from Colorado State University. With over 25 years of design experience, he specializes in board-level FPGA and microcontroller systems, having contributed to more than 20 ASIC tape-outs across various applications, including industrial, networking, consumer, and storage sectors. Benjamin has held multiple engineering roles, such as Reliability Engineer, Quality Engineer, Design Engineer, Management positions, Applications Engineer at Altera, and ASIC Architect for various suppliers.

Dr. Blair Schneider is a co-PI of the ADVANCEGeo Partnership and serves as an Associate Researcher and Science Outreach Manager for the Kansas Geological Survey. She leads the NSF-funded BESST program and is a co-PI for both the NSF-funded ADVANCEing FieldSafety program and the DOE-funded CORECM project at the University of Kansas. A Past-President of the Association for Women Geoscientists, she currently presides over the Association for Women Geoscientists Foundation and has previously chaired the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Women's Network Committee. Dr. Schneider holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Geophysics from the University of Kansas and completed a postdoc in STEM Education at the University of Kansas Center for Teaching Excellence. Her research focuses on applying near-surface geophysical methods for archaeological and forensic investigations

Bobby Schnabel is a Professor and External Chair of Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he also serves as the Faculty Director for Entrepreneurship in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. He previously held the role of CEO of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) from 2015 to 2017 and was Dean of the School of Informatics and Computing at Indiana University from 2007 to 2015. Schnabel was part of the Computer Science faculty at CU Boulder from 1977 to 2007, during which time he served as CS department chair from 1990 to 1995, associate dean for academic affairs from 1995 to 1997, founding director of the ATLAS Institute from 1997 to 2007, and vice provost for academic and campus computing and Chief Information Officer from 1998 to 2007. He is a co-founder of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and remains active on its executive team. Additionally, he co-founded the AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics and Society and chairs the ACM task force on ethics in computing education.

Brian Zaharatos is the Director of the Professional Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics at the University of Colorado Boulder. He teaches several courses, including ANOVA and Experimental Design, Generalized Linear Models and Nonparametric Regression, and Modern Regression Analysis in R. His courses focus on statistical modeling techniques essential for data analysis and research applications.

Brianna Tomlinson is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Human-Centered Computing program at the Georgia Institute of Technology, focusing on creating inclusive interactive experiences for diverse audiences. Her research explores how multimodal experiences enhance engagement in learning environments. Notably, she collaborates on a grant aimed at developing and evaluating accessible auditory displays for PhET Interactive Simulations, which are designed to improve accessibility and user engagement in educational settings.

Bruce Montgomery, PhD, PMP, is an accomplished educator and professional at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he teaches courses related to embedded interface design. His expertise includes advanced topics such as ANOVA and experimental design, generalized linear models, and modern regression analysis in R. With a robust academic background and industry experience, he is dedicated to enhancing the learning experience for students in the field of applied mathematics and engineering.

Bruce Walker is a Professor of Psychology and Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, where he leads the Sonification Lab, focusing on human-computer interaction (HCI) in non-traditional interfaces such as mobile devices, vehicle displays, and multimodal educational environments. His research interests include sonification and auditory displays, exploring how these technologies can enhance user engagement and accessibility. Walker teaches courses on HCI, Sensation & Perception, Auditory Interfaces, and Assistive Technology.

Catherine designs math and statistics simulations at PhET Interactive Simulations, where she also focuses on creating and facilitating meaningful professional development for K-12 math teachers, aiming to illuminate hidden mathematics within the curriculum. With 20 years of experience as a secondary mathematics instructor, she has received the Superintendent’s Excellence in Education award twice and the district’s Innovative Curriculum Award. Catherine holds a B.S. in Mathematics and a B.S. in Computer Science Engineering, an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, and her Secondary Teaching Certificate from Michigan State University. She earned her Ed.D. in Educational Studies with a focus on Secondary Mathematics Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado.

Charlie Nuttelman is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he has been an instructor since 2007. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the same department in 1999, 2001, and 2005, respectively. Over his teaching career, Nuttelman has taught 18 different courses, accumulating more than 20,000 student credit hours, ranging from introductory engineering classes to advanced senior design courses. He is particularly passionate about teaching introductory computing, a course he has delivered over 20 times, appreciating the creativity and problem-solving opportunities it offers to students new to programming. In addition to his on-campus teaching, he instructs seven courses on Coursera, including specializations in "Excel/VBA for Creative Problem Solving" and "Everyday Excel." Nuttelman’s commitment to education and innovation in engineering pedagogy continues to inspire and equip students with essential skills for their future careers.

Chris Koehler earned his B.S. in Marketing from George Mason University and an MBA from Georgia State University, along with completing the Harvard Business Analytics Executive Education Program. He has over 25 years of experience in marketing, customer success, and solution consulting, having held leadership positions at Twilio, Box, Adobe Systems, E*TRADE Financial, SunTrust Bank, and Claritas. Currently, Chris serves as the Chief Marketing Officer at Twilio, where he is responsible for the company's global marketing strategy.