Advisory Board

World-class researchers and educators guiding the Alliance — NASA scientists, Fulbright scholars, and AAAS award recipients.

Meet the Board

Ten leaders committed to transforming STEAM education across the Americas.

Duilia F. de Mello, PhD

Vice Provost for Global Strategies & Professor of Physics

Catholic University of America, Washington D.C.

Brazilian extragalactic astrophysicist, first woman to hold full professorship in Physics at CUA. Associate researcher at NASA Goddard for 20+ years; discovered supernova SN1997D and the "blue blobs." 100+ scientific publications with 16,000+ citations.

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Teresa Kennedy, PhD

Professor of STEM & Bilingual/ELL Education

University of Texas at Tyler

35+ years in higher education, former Director of the International Division of the GLOBE Program at UCAR (2001–2012), working with 112 countries in collaboration with NASA and the U.S. Dept. of State. Fulbright Scholar in Ecuador, Argentina and Hungary.

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Michael Odell, PhD

Roosth Endowed Chair, Professor of STEM Education

University of Texas at Tyler

Pioneer in STEM teacher education; co-founded UT Tyler University Academy and the Ingenuity Center. Secured $60M+ in research grants. Co-Director of the UTeach Program.

Karen Barton, PhD

Professor of Geography, GIS and Sustainability

University of Northern Colorado

Specialist in environmental justice and climate resilience. 2025 Rotary Peace Fellow (1 of 130 awarded globally from 1,573 applicants), focused on mangrove restoration in Senegal.

Aletha Cherry, PhD

Curriculum & Instruction Consultant

Georgia Chapter of Partners of the Americas

Doctor in Curriculum & Instruction with Global STEM Education focus. President of the Georgia Chapter of Partners of the Americas; Education Ambassador for the U.S. and Brazil.

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Juan F. Arratia, PhD

AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award 2025

Ana G. Méndez University System, Puerto Rico

Pioneer of the Model Institutions for Excellence program (NSF/NASA), which produced 233 science graduates. Winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM, 2007).

Abi Paytoe Gbayee, PhD

Assistant Professor of Arts Education

University of Northern Colorado

Specialist in data storytelling and visualization as a bridge between science, community and shared meaning. Responsible for the Data Visualization for STEAM module in the Alliance pre-departure program.

Dorly Piske, MA, MS

Language & Communication Specialist

University of Wyoming | Colorado Chapter of Partners of the Americas

Specialist in academic English communication, pronunciation and comprehensibility for non-native speakers in scientific and institutional settings. Mentor and facilitator for the Alliance exchange program, with active participation in the linguistic preparation of Latin American participants for effective integration into U.S. university environments.

Ana Beatriz Prieto, MSc, PhD(c)

Board Member, Colorado Chapter of Partners of the Americas

Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Argentina

GLOBE Master Trainer with 20+ years working with NASA/GLOBE in Argentina and Latin America. Co-coordinator of both the 100K Strong UNComa-UT Tyler exchange (2024) and the first official STEAM Alliance exchange (2026).

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Nicolás Arízaga, MA

President, Colorado Chapter of Partners of the Americas

Denver, Colorado

Ecuadorian political consultant, educator and linguist. CEO of Political & Legal Translation (Denver). Co-director of the first STEAM Alliance exchange (2026), awarded the Group Exchange Facilitation Funding by Partners of the Americas and the U.S. Dept. of State.

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