APL’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Program Management Office is committed to helping students and teachers develop their literacy and competency in STEM. Our mission is to develop our nation’s STEM talent. We do this through our programs that provide a pathway to STEM careers for students in grades 3–12. Our core programs are designed to be complementary and are grounded in what we call the integrated model. The integrated model is how we ensure that children in our programs learn about what being a STEM professional truly means. Use this website to learn more about APL’s pathway of programs and how you can get connected!

APL STEM Pathway

Depiction of the STEM Program Pathway

Staff

  • Dwight Carr

    Dwight Carr, Ed. D., APL STEM Program Manager

    In 2011, to address our nation’s critical challenge of creating a workforce educated and trained in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), APL launched a STEM Program Management Office to help inspire, engage, and educate the next generation of STEM professionals. Led by Program Manager Dwight Carr, Ed. D., APL’s STEM efforts are concentrated on providing students, parents, and teachers with substantial involvement with STEM professionals and the work they do. With APL since 2003, Carr has held successive technical positions as an electrical engineer, lead engineer, and project manager. Before joining APL, he was instrumental in establishing a manufacturing laboratory for the Gene Logic Genomics Corporation and served as a research fellow for the National Institutes of Health. Carr holds a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from The Johns Hopkins University and received his undergraduate degree in biology from Howard University, where he was a member of the National Golden Key Honor Society and the Beta Kappa Chi Honor Society.

  • Elise Buckley

    Elise Buckley, STEM Academic Program Specialist

    Elise Buckley is APL STEM’s Academic Program Specialist. She has worked in a variety of STEM education settings, doing outreach work with the Maryland Science Center, teaching math with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, and working on teacher professional development programs with NASA Langley’s Office of Education. She holds a B.S. in mathematics with a minor in physics from Juniata College and an M.Ed. in education planning, policy, and leadership from the College of William & Mary. Her research interests focus on professional development opportunities for pre-service and in-service teachers, and she has several published articles in physics, math, and education journals. Elise’s passion is increasing equity of access to STEM education, and she is always willing to talk about ways to meet that goal.

  • Jessica Goddard

    Jessica Goodard, ASPIRE STEM Program Specialist

    Jessica Goodard is APL’s ASPIRE STEM Program Specialist and is responsible for coordinating APL’s Student Program to Inspire, Relate, and Enrich (ASPIRE) and APL’s STEM scholarships. She joined APL in August 2014 and spent more than four years assisting the Laboratory’s technical staff and coordinating the ASPIRE program for one APL department. Previously, Jessica worked as a language arts tutor primarily for ESOL students in kindergarten through graduate school. In that role, she was able to help students hone their skills, increase their reading and writing abilities, and improve their English language fluency. When she isn’t working with students, Jessica spends her time writing fiction and nonfiction and has both published in professional outlets and presented at academic conferences. Jessica holds a double B.A. in English and creative writing from Salem College and an M.A. in English literature from George Mason University.

  • Danielle Allen

    Danielle Allen, STEM Program Assistant

  • Kelli Llano

    Kelli Llano, MESA Program Specialist

    Kelli Llano is APL’s MESA Program Specialist. She works to support regional and school coordinators in delivering the best possible MESA experience for students. Kelli is a former Science, Math, and STEM teacher, specializing in creative delivery of STEM instruction and Project Based Learning. Additionally, Kelli worked as a Curriculum Developer to create instructional materials for the Department of Defense. Kelli holds a B.S. in Physics from the University of Tampa and a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Central Florida. She is currently pursuing a M.S. in Digital Age Learning and Technology from Johns Hopkins University.

  • Holli Walker

    Holli Walker, College Internship Program Specialist

    Holli Walker is APL’s College Internship Program Specialist and spearheads the strategic design, development, and implementation of tailored programming that provides APL's top-talent interns with the required expertise for successful transition into their future careers. Before joining APL, she served as a lead Program Manager at AT&T, where she successfully revamped a national internship program. Her efforts led to a transformation of the program's initiatives, benefiting 350 college interns and significantly enhancing their summer experience. She is deeply committed to equipping aspiring future leaders with the necessary developmental tools, resources, and insights to effectively propel them forward in their career journey. Holli holds a B.B.A. in Management from Howard University and a M.B.A. from University of Maryland Global Campus.

  • Helene McLaughlin

    Helene McLaughlin, STEM Academy Program Specialist

    Helene McLaughlin is the STEM Academy Program Specialist and is responsible for managing APL’s STEM Academy. Before joining APL in July of 2024, Helene spent 9 years teaching physics and other physical sciences within the Maryland public school system. Additionally, Helene worked to develop in-person and virtual Next Generation Science Standards-aligned physics curricula in two school districts. Helene has a passion for teaching other teachers engaging and equitable lab instruction in an increasingly digital world. Before her teaching tenure, Helene worked as a data analyst on space-based telescopes such as Hubble, FUSE, Spitzer, and James Webb. Helene holds a B.A. in Astronomy and Astrophysics, with a minor in physics from the University of Colorado at Boulder, an M.A.T. in Curriculum and Instruction from Adams State University, and a NASA Endeavor STEM Teaching Certificate from the Teacher’s College at Columbia University, NY. When she’s not managing STEM Academy, Helene enjoys ceramic arts, traveling, photography, and spending time with her family.