Advisory Committee
Lisa Brahams, Ph.D.
Lisa Brahams, Ph.D. is the Director of Education for the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich Vermont. Lisa has been an educator and designer of informal and formal learning experiences and environments for two decades. As Director of Learning and Research at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Lisa lead the development and study of MAKESHOP, a maker space designed for young children and family learning at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. The MAKESHOP project has become a national model of informal learning research and practice.
Stephanie Chang
Stephanie Chang’s focus over the past 15 years has been in experiential education, whether defined as STEM, STEAM, hands-on, project-based, or maker-centered. Between 2012 and 2020, she worked at Maker Ed, a national non-profit organization that supported educators in their maker learning endeavors, whether related to developing programs and makerspaces, integrating tools and curriculum, or facilitation and assessment of learning experiences. She has also worked in educational research and evaluation, designed curriculum, led science and technology summer programs, and taught environmental and marine science. Currently, Stephanie supports a portfolio of consulting projects in design, learning, and strategy.
Saroj Ghoting
Saroj Ghoting is an Early Childhood Literacy Consultant and national trainer on early literacy. She presents early literacy workshops at conferences and library systems for staff and their partners. She has been a consultant for the Public Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children of the American Library Association on the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library® early literacy initiative. She is the co-author of six books, the most recent being Supercharged Storytimes: An Early Literacy Planning and Assessment Guide, co-authored with the researchers from the VIEWS2 project at the University of Washington. Saroj has been a children’s librarian for over 40 years and a consultant since 2003. She received her MLS from Catholic University in Washington, DC. She enjoys learning new ideas while presenting trainings on early literacy.
Ann Marie Polensberg Thomas, Ph.D.
Ann Marie Polensberg Thomas Ph. D. is a Professor in the School of Engineering and Opus College of Business at University of St. Thomas, and the Director of the Playful Learning Lab. She is also Co-Founder of University of St. Thomas Center for Engineering Education at University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Lisa Regalla, Ph.D
Lisa Regalla is the CEO of Regallium Consulting, LLC. Her consulting practice focuses on bridging the gap between research and practice by putting actionable tools in the hands of adults to support the creative development of children of all ages. Previously, she was the Deputy Director of Maker Ed, supporting a growing, national network committed to broadening participation in making as a form of creative learning. She also served as the Director of STEM Learning & Innovation at the Bay Area Discovery Museum and developed content and a national outreach program for the SciGirls children’s television series at Twin Cities Public Television. As the project manager of several national outreach initiatives throughout her career, Lisa has experience planning, leading, and evaluating initiatives focused on building and sustaining innovative learning environments. Lisa received a BS in Chemistry and a BA in Theater before earning her Ph.D. in Chemistry. In 2011, she received a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on SciGirls and the Rising Star Award from the Women Chemists Committee of the American Chemical Society for her work to promote gender equity in STEM.