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Travis T. York, Ph.D.
Director, Inclusive STEM Ecosystems for Equity & Diversity (ISEED)
Travis T. York, Ph.D., serves as the Director of Inclusive STEMM Ecosystems for Equity & Diversity (ISEED) at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In his role, Dr. York provides leadership for all of AAAS’s externally facing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives. York’s research and work focus on catalyzing and sustaining systemic change and transformation to achieve inclusive and equitable access and progress through STEMM pathways into the STEMM workforce. Within AAAS, York provides leadership to a talented team who collaborate to create change through dozens of grant-funded projects and initiatives spanning all STEMM fields and the entire educational pathway including the STEMM Opportunity Alliance – recently launched at the White House Summit on STEMM Equity & Excellence, AAAS’s SEA Change Initiative, AAAS S-STEM REC, ARISE Network, Equitable Pathways Project, L’Oreal USA Women in Science Fellowships, and HBCU Making & Innovation Showcase. More.
Layne Scherer
Program Director
Layne Scherer is a Program Director for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Inclusive STEM Ecosystems for Equity and Diversity. Her portfolio of work includes managing the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) initiative, Noyce initiative, and S-STEM initiative. Prior to joining AAAS, Scherer worked at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Scherer served as the study director for the reports on Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations: Beyond Broadening Participation; Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Wellbeing in Higher Education: Supporting the Whole Student; Changing Expectations for the K-12 Teacher Workforce: Policies, Preservice Education, Professional Development, and the Workplace; and Graduate STEM Education for the 21st Century. Before her time at the National Academies, Scherer worked in the Directorate for STEM Education at the National Science Foundation. Scherer has a B.A. (English and history of art) and M.P.P. from the University of Michigan. More.
Betty Calinger
Senior Project Director
Betty currently works on projects that build science literacy for all children in formal and informal settings through partnerships. She oversees the AAAS STEM Volunteer Program that places STEM professionals in classrooms in 10 school districts in the DC metro area to assist teachers. Betty also administers a summer science program for elementary students through partnerships with libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other community-based organizations. More.
Thomas Veague
Project Director
Thomas Veague is the Project Director for the NSF-funded Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Initiative at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that seeks to synthesize and disseminate research evidence around STEM teaching and learning. He works to build innovative and engaging opportunities for STEM professionals to connect and share ideas. Thomas previously held the position of Vice President at the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), where he managed meetings and conferences focused on accelerating the transition towards a renewable energy economy. Most recently, Thomas lead volunteer teams, conducted species surveys, and participated in several research studies at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. Thomas holds a B.A. from Knox College in Environmental Studies. More.
Andrew Scammell
Program Associate
Andrew (Drew) Scammell joined AAAS in 2019 as part of the Office of Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships. In April of 2023, he transitioned over to the Inclusive STEM Ecosystems for Equity and Diversity (ISEED) program. As a Program Associate in ISEED, Drew works on AAAS’ NSF-funded Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, Advancing Research & Innovation in the STEM Education of Preservice Teachers in High-Need School Districts (ARISE) Initiative, and Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) initiative. Prior to AAAS, he served as the Mathematics Intern at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) for the 2018-2019 academic year. Drew holds a B.S. in Physics, a B.A. in Mathematics, and B.A. in Dance from HWS. More.
Jeunice Lim
Event Operations Manager
Jeunice Lim joined AAAS in May of 2022 as the Event Operations Manager. She is responsible for supporting planning and implementation of three major convenings within AAAS’s Inclusive STEMM Ecosystems for Equity & Diversity (ISEED) program unit – the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference, IUSE Summit, and Noyce Summit. Prior to AAAS, she has worked with managing events and meetings for a non-profit organization and a hotel in the D.C. area. She holds a BS in Business Administration from University of Maryland Global Campus. More.