GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO)
GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO)
The GIO is sponsored through a NASA cooperative agreement award to Education Development Center (EDC) and The City University of New York (CUNY). Together with the GLOBE Working Groups, GIO works to support community initiatives in science, education, evaluation, technology, as well as the development of new science and education content.
You can contact the GIO using our email address: help@nasaglobe.org.
Director, Science and Training, Education, and Public Engagement
Rebecca Boger (Becky) is the director of the Science, Training, Education, and Public Engagement (STEPE) team at the GIO, and is also a professor and chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Brooklyn College, CUNY. Before coming to Brooklyn College, she worked for GLOBE, first as a NOAA Knauss Fellow and then as an international project scientist and partner liaison. She collaborated with teams of scientists and educators to develop classroom materials, conduct workshops, and facilitate international collaborations. After joining Brooklyn College in 2007, she continued to work with GLOBE on the Science Working Group and GISN, as an IVSS judge, and on other funded GLOBE-related education and science projects. Becky lives in New York.
Director, Community Engagement and Support
Rebecca Lewis is the director of the Community Engagement and Support (CES) team at the GIO. As a managing project director at EDC, Rebecca focuses on strategic direction, international and federal co-sponsor relationships, and partnerships to advance GLOBE. She has developed and led a range of initiatives that focus on engaging leaders from STEM industries, corporations, schools, and communities in collaborating to improve students’ outcomes. In addition, she has led an international biotechnology education program for more than 10 years. Rebecca lives in Massachusetts.
Deputy Director, Community Engagement & Support
Jackie DeLisi is the deputy director for the GIO Community Engagement and Support (CES) team at the GIO. As a senior research scientist at EDC, Jackie leads a wide variety of projects that improve science learning and teaching in classrooms and informal learning environments. Her recent work includes organizing a convening to develop K-12 green workforce initiatives, evaluating a STEM learning ecosystem, and developing research partnerships with science teacher preparation programs. Jackie lives in Massachusetts.
Deputy Director, Science
Dr. Rusty Low is the deputy director for Science at the GIO. She has been active in various roles in the GLOBE community since 2001, most recently as the science lead for The GLOBE Program’s GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper. Currently a senior scientist at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), she served as a Fulbright Scholar in 2021–22 in Brazil and is a Fulbright Specialist and UNITAR Global Diplomacy Fellow. She earned her PhD at the University of Minnesota. Rusty lives in Colorado.
Christina (Christi) Buffington
Deputy Director, Training, Education, and Public Engagement
Christina "Christi" Buffington is the deputy director for Training, Education, and Public Engagement (TEPE) at the GIO. She is also the science education director and program manager of the Geographic Information Network of Alaska at the Geophysical Institute and an adjunct faculty with the Natural Resources and Environment Department at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Troth Yeddha' Campus. As a project co-lead for several participatory science projects across the Arctic and beyond, she works with communities, educators, youth, and scientists on Arctic and Northern region research and education. Christi works closely with the University of Alaska Fairbanks GLOBE Partner, serving as a Training Point of Contact, where she has successfully integrated GLOBE with workforce development skills for youth in Alaska. Christina brings over 25 years of experience in community-based applied science and education work. Christi lives in Alaska.
Communications Lead
Leana Nordstrom leads communications for the GIO. Leana is an expert in communications, event management, product management, and fostering peer-to-peer professional learning. She leads the design of publications, infographics, videos, websites, and events that advance efforts to improve the quality of education, with a special focus on STEM education and early learning. Leana served as an environmental education extension agent in Senegal as a Peace Corps volunteer. Leana lives in Massachusetts.
Communications Manager
Kerry Ouellet is a managing editor at EDC and is the communications manager for the GIO. Kerry supports all GLOBE communications but focuses on coordination and promotion of GLOBE news and events. During her tenure at EDC, Kerry has managed the development of online and print curricula, professional learning programs, and program websites, from inception to publication. As a managing editor, she has guided the production of numerous STEM education resources. Kerry lives in Massachusetts.
Kyra Beneke
Communications Assistant
Kyra Beneke is a communications assistant for the GIO, focusing on GLOBE news and events. While at EDC, Kyra has contributed to various projects through research, copyediting, resource development, and supporting content-driven media relations through written material. Kyra lives in Florida.
Communications Specialist, Social Media
Pradipti Bhatta is a communications specialist for the GIO, focusing on social media. As an EDC project associate, she manages key aspects of projects and brings expertise in research communications, social media strategy, website management, data visualization, and community engagement. She advances the goals of multiple initiatives that seek to improve the quality of education. Pradipti lives in Washington State.
Communications Specialist, Student Vlogger Program
Mary Fedorchak is a communications specialist for the GIO, focusing on the Student Vlogging Program. At EDC, she has managed projects that focus on STEM education. She has co-led large-scale district-wide STEM programs. Prior to coming to EDC, Mary led community and school programs at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL. Mary lives in Illinois.
Una MacDowell
Communications Specialist
Una MacDowell is a researcher at EDC and a GLOBE communications specialist focusing on research and writing. Una has worked as a researcher and evaluator on many EDC projects over her tenure there, working with educators and institutions to improve STEM education. Una is also an archaeologist currently working on an archaeological survey in Vermont. Una lives in Massachusetts and Vermont.
Community Engagement Specialist
Evangeline Ambat is a community engagement specialist for the GIO. As a senior technical assistance and training associate at EDC, Evangeline has several years of experience working on a variety of National Science Foundation (NSF) programs leading community engagement activities to broaden participation in STEM. Evangeline also works with state departments of education across the US to build capacity on making data-informed decisions. Prior to working at EDC, Evangeline led community engagement programs in both formal and informal education across various states in India. Evangeline lives in Massachusetts.
Community Engagement Specialist
Amy Busey is a community engagement specialist for the GIO. As a research scientist at EDC, Amy also leads community building, knowledge sharing, dissemination, and support activities for STEM education researchers funded through CADRE, the resource network for NSF’s DRK-12 program. Amy’s other work focuses on data literacy education, including developing and testing curricula and instructional approaches that can support learning with and about data in science classrooms. Amy lives in New York.
Community Liaison
Raegan Davenport supports the African region as the community liaison for the GLOBE Implementation Office. She is an associate project manager at EDC specializing in instructional coaching and professional learning design. She leads work on a Department of Defense-sponsored project focused on designing STEM challenges for high school students and manages various initiatives for the Amgen Biotech Experience teacher community of practice. Before joining EDC, Raegan worked as a classroom teacher, professional development specialist, problem-based learning coach, and instructor at Wayne State University. Raegan lives in Virginia.
Jenny Portillo-Nacu
Community Liaison
Jenny Portillo-Nacu is a community liaison for the GIO supporting the Latin America and Caribbean region. As a senior technical assistance and training associate at EDC, she specializes in partnering with state departments of education, districts, and schools to build their capacity to adopt and sustain instructional practices that support student belonging and family engagement. Prior to working at EDC, Jenny provided support to multiple federal technical assistance centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Jenny has also served as an elementary school teacher, school administrator, professional development facilitator, and curriculum designer. Jenny lives in New York.
Continuous Improvement Lead
Anne Wang leads continuous improvement efforts for the GIO CES team. She is an experienced researcher and project leader with expertise in data-driven continuous improvement, program evaluation, instructional design, training and technical assistance, strategic planning, root cause analysis, and needs and resource assessments. Spanning the fields of education, health, and mental health, her work focuses on improving outcomes for youth from low-income communities. Anne lives in Massachusetts.
Operations Lead
Jen Yurof leads operations efforts for the GIO CES team. As a project director at EDC, Jen has led a variety of projects focusing on collaborating with content experts to develop engaging and interactive online learning experiences. She is an experienced instructional designer and online learning specialist. Prior to EDC, she was an elementary teacher and technology integration specialist for adult English language learners. Jen lives in Massachusetts.
Community Support Specialist
Angelica Giardina serves as a community engagement and support specialist with the GIO. As an associate project director at EDC, Angelica focuses on strengthening technology and operations for public health and education programs, drawing on experience from guiding technology, operations, and helpdesk systems for national and state technical assistance centers, an educational nonprofit, and several large retail companies. Angelica lives in Massachusetts.
Community Support Specialist
Eslam Khair, a community support and engagement specialist, joined the GIO team in 2012. Eslam focuses on helping the GLOBE community with on-boarding new countries, partners, and educators and GLOBE website-related issues. Before GLOBE, Eslam earned his MBA in IT Management and he brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous role as an account Team Lead at IBM to GLOBE. Eslam lives in Colorado.
Carol Musallam
Project Coordinator
Carol Musallam is a project coordinator for the GIO. At EDC, she supports initiatives through resource development, curriculum development, and digital and communications strategies, including graphic design. She also assists with coordinating online trainings and events and managing project logistics. Carol lives in Massachusetts.
Project Manager
Guljemal "Gulya" Toshieva is the project manager of the Science, Training, Education, and Public Engagement (STEPE) team in the GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO). As project manager, she facilitates communication and reporting between the Science and TEPE teams, working groups, and GIO leadership. In addition, she is tasked with timeline and budgeting management. She has earned both her undergraduate degree in Psychology and is pursuing her master’s degree in I/O Psychology at CUNY Brooklyn College. Guljemal lives in New York.
Charles Vörösmarty
Science Lead
Dr. Charles Vörösmarty is founding and current Director of the Environmental Sciences Initiative at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center and Professor of Geography and Environmental Science at Hunter College of New York. He is a senior researcher, with nearly 50 years of experience. He has led numerous interdisciplinary study teams carrying out research on hydrology and water resource systems worldwide; strategic regional water-environment-food-energy risks; and, global threats to human water security and aquatic biodiversity. He has led interdisciplinary study teams using earth system models to assess the impact of water resource management worldwide and how they generate downstream coastal zone risks, strategic U.S. national and regional-scale water-environment-energy risks, and global threats to human water security and aquatic biodiversity. He served as co-Chair of the Global Water System Project. In the U.S. he was on the Arctic Research Commission (appointed by Presidents Bush and Obama), the NASA Earth Science Subcommittee, the National Research Council Committee on Hydrologic Science (as Chair), and the NRC Review Committee on the U.S. Global Change Research Program. His recent work focuses on the capacity of traditional engineering (gray) and nature-based (green) infrastructure to contribute to global water security. Charles lives in New York.
Ian Maywar
Data Analyst
Ian is a quantitative researcher interested in leveraging AI for the analysis of geospatial and environmental data. He has project experience in the fields of ecology, the environment, urban planning, and physics, and is currently wrapping up his work with NASA DEVELOP, where he is mapping urban heat and identifying priority mitigation areas in Chatham County, Georgia. Ian has a Master's in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences from Stony Brook University and Bachelors' in Mathematics and Biology from Skidmore College. He is experienced with Python, R, and GUI-based GIS software for data analysis and is excited to use these tools to evaluate and improve the GLOBE data and information system as a valuable collection of in-situ measurements. Outside of work, Ian loves going to the movies and to concerts, and enjoys playing volleyball and basketball. Ian lives in New York.
Andrew Clark
Research and Data Analyst
Andrew Clark serves as a Research and Data Analyst and provides technical support for the GIO. An engineer by training, he has experience across a broad range of geospatial and web technologies. The nexus of remote sensing, computer vision, and personal human connection to place and time is the driving force behind his curiosity. Andrew works at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and lives in Virginia.
Brianna Lind
Data Scientist and Remote Sensing Ecologist
Dr. Brianna "Bri" Lind is a data scientist and remote sensing ecologist with a passion for educating others on the science, application, and integration of Earth observations. Before joining GLOBE, she worked for the NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center where she championed open data science practices and enabled the timely distribution of remote sensing data products and learning resources. She earned her PhD in 2022 from New Mexico State University and was supported by a NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship. Bri works at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and lives in South Dakota.
Earth Science Education Technology Specialist
Cassie Soeffing specializes in using geospatial data and technologies in education settings and instructional technology design for GIO. She brings deep experience in GLOBE, as a GLOBE Partner, GLOBE-trained teacher and trainer, IVSS judge, and has provided numerous GLOBE community webinars and developed learning resources. She is a SciStarter Ambassador and active leader in the citizen science community, including teaching courses in citizen science (GLOBE Observer) for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes. Cassie’s accolades include serving as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow at NASA HQ, receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and the AmericaView K-12 Educator Award. Cassie is a senior Earth science educator at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and lives in South Dakota.
Gillian Bayne
Training, Education and Public Engagement Lead
Dr. Gillian Bayne is the lead educator for the Training, Education and Public Engagement in GLOBE. She is a professor of Science Education at Lehman College of the City University of New York (CUNY), and holds a dual appointment in the Urban Education Department at the CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. Bayne brings to GLOBE over thirty years of science education experience, which have helped to deepen the theoretical and ethical underpinnings of pedagogical enactment and scholarly work. She has worked with and has supported beginning, seasoned and pre-service science teachers, as well as science and urban education doctoral students. Dr. Bayne has served as Principal and co-Principal Investigator on several grants, including those from the National Science Foundation as well as NASA. Gillian lives in New York.
Geospatial Data Analyst
Hannah is a Geospatial Data Analyst at the Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA). She holds a BA in Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a MS in Geoscience from the University of Alaska Fairbanks which focused on the effects of snow albedo on summer sea ice across the Arctic. Before moving to Fairbanks, she worked at a Nevada gold mine as an Environmental Engineer and as a forestry technician at Oregon State University. Hannah is currently working on projects related to vegetation changes across Alaska’s unique ecosystems and loves learning new skills related to geospatial data, python coding, and data visualization.
Dinorah-Marie Hudson
Science Education Fellow
Dinorah-Marie Hudson is a Science Education Fellow for the Science, Training, Education, and Public Engagement (STEPE) team at the GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO). A seasoned educator with over two decades of experience in New York City public schools, she has taught physics, earth science, astronomy, and environmental science. Early in her career, she worked with GLOBE protocols and is excited to return to this work. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Urban Education at the Graduate Center, focusing on how public educational institutions engage students in addressing environmental challenges through public science and participatory action research. Dinorah lives in New York.
Education Specialist
Alison Mote is an education specialist for Science, Training, Education, and Public Engagement in the GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO-STEPE). Joining the GIO team in 2023, she focuses on developing and managing education materials to support GLOBE educators and their students, including coordinating the International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS) and the GLOBE Annual Meeting Student Experience. Before GLOBE, Alison earned her undergraduate degree in Geology at the University of Georgia as well as a Master’s in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. She brings a wealth of knowledge from her previous roles as a high school science educator in Austin, TX and geoscience course manager for the OnRamps dual enrollment program at UT Austin. Alison lives in Texas.
Lucy Robins
Science Education Fellow
Dr. Lucy Robins is a science education fellow for the Science, Training, Education and Public Engagement in the GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO-STEPE). She has been a high school science teacher for the past thirteen years, working in public high schools teaching chemistry and biology in both Boston and New York City. In addition, she has served as an instructional coach and teacher educator with Breakthrough Collaborative and Math for America, and she is currently a lecturer in education across several CUNY campuses. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology at Vassar College, her master’s degree in Education at HGSE, and recently graduated with her doctorate in Urban Education from the CUNY Graduate Center. Lucy lives in New York.
STEM Workforce Training & Development Consultant
Larisa K. Schelkin is a Workforce Training and Education Expert and STEM Education Policy Specialist. She has led workforce educational and training needs analyses and has developed and implemented numerous workforce training initiatives. As a leader at the Massachusetts Regional Employment Workforce Development Board for more than 15 years, Larisa worked on Youth Workforce Development, Youth Career, and Employment initiatives. She has developed corporate workforce training and education programs, including Electronics Technology, Semiconductor Technician, Engineering Assistant, and Basic Microwave Technician programs. She is a dedicated advocate for vocational career and technical education. Larisa has collaborated with the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) for more than 10 years, serving on the MAVA Annual Conference Committee. As a recognized leader in STEM education, Larisa has served on and contributed to the Massachusetts STEM Education Summit Committee and the MA STEM K-12 Pipeline Advisory and promotes project-based learning initiatives at Blackstone Valley Vocational School District. Her work continues to shape workforce training and STEM education policies at both state and national levels. Larisa lives in Massachusetts.