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.

  • Amanda Fabian

    Amanda Fabian, MESA STEM PROGRAM SPECIALIST

    Amanda Fabian is APL’s MESA STEM Program Specialist and is responsible for managing the Maryland MESA program. Before joining APL in July 2021, Amanda spent 9 years working with Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth in their Summer Programs department. There she was part of a team that created science curriculum and managed summer sites for the nearly 10,000 advanced learners that would attend CTY Summer Programs each summer. Prior to working at CTY, she taught middle school science for 7 years in Baltimore City. Amanda holds a B.S. in Biology from Elon University, a M.A.T. in Secondary Science from Johns Hopkins University, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Marine Biology from James Cook University in Townsville, Australia. When not working with the MESA program, Amanda enjoys hiking, baking, and traveling.

  • Christina Romano

    Christina Romano, STEM ACADEMY PROGRAM SPECIALIST

    Christina Romano is APL’s STEM Academy Program Specialist and is responsible for managing STEM Academy. Before joining APL in April 2021, Christina spent over 10 years as a STEM educator in different settings: teaching students in grades 2–12, creating and leading professional development for Maryland science teachers, working as a Scholastic science magazine editor, and designing science and engineering content for BrainPOP. She has also published several articles in science and education journals. Christina holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and an M.S. in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. When not working with STEM Academy, Christina enjoys rock climbing, reading, and traveling.