Staff Team

Julie is the Director of Transdisciplinary Research in the OSU Division of Research and Innovation. She is a social science researcher who works to support scientists’ professional development, improve systems for STEM education, advance broader impacts of the research and innovation enterprise and improve interactions at interface of science and society.

Peter Betjemann is Professor of English and Patricia Valian Reser Executive Director of PRAx, with primary responsibility for the development and direction of OSU’s new Reser Center for the Creative Arts. In that role and as a co-PI on Polar STEAM, he champions the ways in which creative works in a wide variety of mediums can illuminate, invigorate, and – crucially – inform activities in technical and scientific fields.

Kim is a biological oceanographer and a Professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at OSU. As a Co-PI on Polar STEAM and long-time polar researcher, Kim is excited to pair scientists with educators, artists and writers and can’t wait to learn about their experiences in the polar regions.

Susan is the Director of Precollege Programs at OSU. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences with 15+ years in science education scholarship and practice. As a Polar STEAM Co-PI, educator development and diversity liaison, Susan is excited to bring educators, artists, writers and scientists together in an innovative and inclusive program where learning and curiosity thrive.

Melissa is the Outreach and Engagement Lead for the Polar STEAM initiative at the STEM Research Center. She works to support and collaborate with scientists, teachers, artists and writers while engaging in polar science. As a former Director of Experiential Education and science teacher, Melissa managed a multifaceted program that involved training and supporting faculty to create innovative learning experiences for students. She also participated in several teacher-researcher programs, including working with scientists at Toolik Field Station in the Arctic.

Jami is the Logistics Coordinator for the Polar STEAM initiative at the STEM Research Center. An oceanographer by training, she has eight years of experience coordinating the logistics for fieldwork involving small boats, scientific SCUBA diving, and more than 10 major research cruises. She takes pride in her vast experience as liaison to field crew, scientists, students, artists, and educators in field settings. With research experience in Antarctica and the Bearing Sea, Jami focuses on making Polar STEAM Fellows feel supported, prepared, and excited for their polar experience ahead.

Kristin is the Operations Manager at the STEM Research Center. She is responsible for coordinating the contracts, payments, and other financial responsibilities of the project. She is excited to use her skills to help smooth the financial processes for the Polar STEAM participants and team.

Jessica is the Public Information Assistant at the STEM Research Center. She is part of the communications team and is serving as the communications coordinator for Polar STEAM. She is excited to use her media and communications skills to support the team in telling the story of Polar STEAM.

Kristin is a Senior Evaluation/Education Specialist at Science Education Resource Center (SERC), Carleton College. She has a combined background in program evaluation, education research, and geoscience including multiple seasons of remote field work in Alaska. As part of the external evaluation team, Kristin looks forward to understanding participant experiences and perspectives to help guide continuous program improvements.

Over 25 years Dr. Hutchings has worked to improve understanding of the relationship between loading on pack ice and its response, leading field campaigns to better constrain these ad-hoc models and creating data sets that can be used to design models of sea ice dynamics and mechanics. Her most recent field work involvement is in co-leading the ONR funded Sea Ice Dynamics Experiment  (SIDEx) and on the US leadership team for the international Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate expedition (MOSAiC). As a member of the Climate of the Cryosphere Arctic Sea Ice Working Group, she worked to standardized visual ship-based sea ice observations, creating the Ice Watch program and supporting citizen science using the standard observing methods.

Renee is the Curriculum and Professional Development Specialist for Precollege Programs. She has more than 15 years’ experience leading and coordinating STEAM programs for students and teachers. Renee holds a Master of Science Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Washington. She spent many years working in fisheries throughout Alaska on land and at sea, but ultimately found that her passion was in connecting youth to science, particularly those with the least access.

Carly Lettero is the Associate Director of Arts, Science, Humanities and Technology Integration at PRAx. She envisions and builds programs, nurtures collaborations and supports thinkers and creatives. She thrives at intersections—places where ideas and people and disciplines come together to imagine new stories and solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. She’ll manage the Antarctic Artists and Writers program application and selection process.