Technovation
Team

Amy Hee Kim, Chief Operations Officer

As the COO of Technovation, Amy's job is to support the team in various ways. She oversees the software development and finance team but also supports fundraising efforts and programs when needed. She cares deeply about bringing more STEM learning opportunities to underrepresented groups. She was a long-time volunteer with Technovation before joining as team member. Before joining the team, she led diversity efforts at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and led STEM programs at the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. Most of her spare time is spent with her strong-willed toddler and her scientist husband. Recently she was one of the key organizers for March for Science LA.

Rebecca Anderson, Senior Director of Programs

Rebecca Anderson leads the program team to support leaders and students around the world to make changes in their community through tech. She previously served as Director of Educational Programs at Global Language Project, where she trained language teachers and developed curriculum for language classrooms. She has worked as an elementary and middle school teacher in The Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Japan and holds a BS in Education from the University of Kansas and an MA in International Educational Development from Columbia University Teachers College. Rebecca was inspired to join Technovation after seeing what participants were doing to fight climate change, and loves being outside to hike, run, explore new places, or aspire to compete in a pun competition.

Bryant Gomer, Sr. Director of Mentor Programs

Bryant leads volunteer engagement with current and prospective corporate partners. Bryant earned his B.A. in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara and a M.A. in Education and Teaching from USC’s Rossier School of Education. Prior to working with nonprofits in the social impact space, Bryant taught Social Studies in middle school and high school classrooms in the Bay Area and Ann Arbor. While teaching in public school high schools, it was clear to Bryant that many of his students lacked meaningful access to the world of work and career pathways. Technovation participants inspire Bryant because they're girls and young women at the forefront of STEM fields and real world problem solving. Bryant can often be found playing below average guitar, he was once in a teacher band "The Common Hard Core", and it is a huge understatement to say that he is a Bruce Springsteen fan.

Terry Collia, Sr. Director of Marketing

Terry Collia leads a team focused on enhancing the Technovation brand and building affinity between the organization and its core audiences across Programming and Fundraising. Terry oversees all marketing and communications activities, including brand strategy and insights, digital, PR, content development, and event promotion. He has 15 years of marketing experience and most recently served as the Director of Marketing for the 2019 Feeding America Food Bank of the Year, Gleaners Community Food Bank. He earned his B.A. in Journalism from Western Michigan University and currently resides in the Detroit area. When not working, Terry enjoys ice hockey (Go Red Wings!), playing guitar, and traveling with his family.

Judith Ahumada, Program Director

Judy helps develop programs that empower girls to solve community problems with technology. Additionally, she supports our volunteer Chapter Ambassadors across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. She brings with her over 10 years of experience working in the youth service sector as well as a wealth of experience in management and program development. Judy joined the Technovation team in 2015 where she continues to be inspired by the passion and commitment of the organization to amplify the voices of girls everywhere and prepare them to tackle today’s global issues with technology. During her off hours, Judy can often be found sewing a new creation, roller skating with her niece and nephew, or trying her hand at a new recipe such as making fresh pasta with her husband.

Shaun Ambrose, Software Developer

Shaun wears many hats to help build and maintain the platforms. He has over 20 years of software development experience working for companies large and small, and is happy to be using his skill set to help bring more underrepresnted people into STEM. Shaun has a young daughter and is grateful to be working for an organization that would help create more opportunities for her and other girls around the world. He loves coming to work each day and feels honored to be working with such an amazing and talented team. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, playing board games, and learning Japanese.

Shivani Chatterjee, Director of Development

Shivani is a skilled fundraiser and story-teller who brings the analytical tools and creativity of an MBA to Technovation's fundraising and growth strategies. Shivani has bachelors degrees in Government and History from the University of Texas at Austin, and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management where she focused on social entrepreneurship. She is passionate about education as a tool for gender, racial, and economic equity, and has experience working for mission-driven organizations such as Communities In Schools, Impact Hub San Francisco, and the education consulting firm Safal Partners. Shivani has always felt that the educational opportunities in her life came with a responsibility to create similar opportunities for other girls, and she is so excited to fulfill this calling as part of the Technovation team. Shivani is a vegetarian and an ice cream lover. She enjoys all things music — singing, dancing, playing instruments, discovering new artists on Spotify, all of it!

Mackenzie Dancho, Corporate Volunteer Engagement Manager

Mackenzie is committed to building a strong community of volunteers to support Technovation's programs. Mackenzie received her B.S. in Sociology and Political Science from Fordham University. Prior to joining Technovation, Mackenzie worked in Government as a Policy Analyst focused on criminal justice reform. She has also worked with the Digital India Initiative to improve government-to-citizen interactions in India. Mackenzie joined Technovation because she believes that to have holistic systems reform, we need more women using their problem solving skills from positions of leadership. She loves working with Technovation to create a space where girls can have their first leadership experience. Outside of work you can catch Mackenzie learning guitar and enjoying the great outdoors with a hike, surf or simple beach walk.

Kate Fauteux, Alumni Program Manager

Kate works directly with students, volunteers, and alumni, creating opportunities for them to learn and grow. Part of her role includes leading the global Student Ambassador program, which entails engaging with alumni to recruit and mentor students in their local communities. Kate brings with her an extensive background in online education development and managing online learning systems. With a passion for storytelling, Kate's mission is to ensure that every Technovation participant feels empowered to use their voice and vision to build a better world. In her spare time, Kate enjoys listening to music, cooking, and spending time with her amazing niece!

Christina Glezil, Program Coordinator

Christina helps engage Technovation’s diverse global community by building resources and connections that enable awesome tech and entrepreneurial education experiences for participants and volunteers. With a background in both the tech industry and the nonprofit space, joining Technovation was the best of both worlds for her interests, since she's helping young girls feel empowered to make change in their communities. Outside of work you can find her meditating, hanging out in nature, or volunteering at her local animal shelter and zoo!

Daniela Hager, Director of Global Events

Daniela leads efforts to involve and engage girls, families, volunteers, corporate partners, and sponsors through in-person and virtual events. She earned her BS in Hospitality and Business Management at DePaul University and has worked with nonprofits, traveling and raising money for organizations addressing issues ranging from premature births and birth defects, to environmental sustainability, and medical and public health services. Daniela joined Technovation to help develop young girls' feel confident and heard in global STEM fields that are predominantly male-dominated. Outside of work Daniela enjoys exploring the outdoors and making meals and drinks for her family and friends.

Natsuyo Ham, AP/Payroll accountant and HR liaison

Natsuyo wears two hats. As Technovation's HR liaison, she assesses and anticipates HR-related needs for technovation, communicates HR & Payroll information proactively to the team, submits HR & Payroll forms and transactions, and helps employees with their HR & Payroll issues. When Natsuyo wears Accounting hats, she makes sure everyone gets paid on time, plus verifies and reconciles transactions against sub-ledgers. Natsuyo worked 5 years as an accountant in Japan and saved up money, and came to New York to see the world. After graduating from SUNY, Natsuyo was offered job training in a company located in Silicon Valley. Growing up in a homogenous society, Natsuyo appreciates differences by living in NY and CA, and she re-discovered her own tradition, customs, food, and safe environment which she took for granted.

Ophélie  Horsley, Partnerships Director

Ophélie works closely with our community partners. She helps recruit, train, and support our wonderful Chapter Ambassadors, who manage the program on the ground. Ophélie is originally from France and worked at Crisis Aid International and the Institute of International Education (IIE) before joining Technovation in 2017. The organization's focus on education and empowerment really spoke to her. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, hiking, reading, and trying new food. 

Maggie Jaris, Content Manager

Maggie helps tell the story of Technovation and its participants. Her commitment to fair and equitable education grew out of her experiences as a student in New York City's public school system. She is proud to help share stories of how girls and families around the world are using technology and creative problem solving to change their communities. Outside of work Maggie can be found taking meandering walks through Brooklyn, and stealing time with her sister's dog, Spoon.

Richard Jung, Data Analyst

As a data analyst, Rich assesses the learning gains and outcomes of program participants. He believes in the power of project-based learning to transform classroom learning into cohesive and practical understanding of subject materials. He has worked for Motorola, Northrop Grumman, Illinois Tool Works, and Chicago Public Schools in product and process development. He enjoys international folk and ballroom dancing, and golfs when he can.

Anna Juszczak, Marketing Coordinator

Anna uses social media to share the stories of Technovation’s participants and partners. Anna received her B.S. in Marketing from DePaul University and went on to work for MillerCoors and GlobalGiving prior to joining Technovation. Her commitment to fighting for gender equality started when she was 1 of the 2 girls in her 40 person coding class in college. She is honored to highlight the problem-solving abilities and determination of the girls and communities that Technovation serves. Outside of work, Anna can be found doing yoga, meditating, trying food from new restaurants, or playing with her Mini-Australian Shepherd, Buster.

Nicholas Luu, Program Specialist

Nick helps keep Technovation running by creating a variety of activities for all Technovation participants to experience. Nick received his B.A. in Geography from U.C. Berkeley and shortly after, he started a tea room. Tea and geography opened doors that helped Nick realize he loves hearing other people's stories and deepened his desire to help uplift people in whatever way he can. Nick found his way to Technovation, where inspired by the stories of every girls' journey, he's happily been since. Outside of work, Nick is likely either cooking a new recipe or walking his cat.

Audra Torres, Creative Manager

Audra Torres uses graphic design & video to tell stories and share ideas about Technovation's global community of learners and leaders. Audra earned her BFA in Art from University of Central Florida and from there spent a year as a resident artist at Cub Creek Foundation. After becoming a mother, her determination to contribute to making the world brighter and more sustainable for future generations only deepened. Seeing the accomplishments of Technovation participants fills her with hope for the future. In her free time, Audra is often catching bugs with her kids, tending her vegetable garden, and watching movies with her husband, Sam.

Elizabeth Vodak, Senior Accountant

Beth is responsible for the preparation of the financial records, analysis and creation of the financial statements and ensuring regulatory compliance in Technovation's accounting practices. She graduated from Polytechnic Univ. of the Philippines with a BS in Accounting and has worked for Glaxo SmithKline, MicroFit, Murdoch & Assoc. Consulting. She came to the US in '92 because she believes that this is a great country that allows freedom and equal opportunity for anybody who will work hard and is self reliant. A mother of two boys, she played volleyball in high school and college, loves the outdoors - biking, skiing, zip-lining, hang-gliding, kayaking with her husband, Paul.

Kate Young, Fundraising Coordinator

Alexis Joly

Computer Scientist; member of Inria; Creator of [email protected]

Angel Poyato

Senior Manager, Supply Chain Digitization at Li & Fung Limited

Dr. Anne Carpenter

Senior Director, Imaging Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Christoph Windheuser

Principal Consultant at ThoughtWorks

Dale Lane

Developer, IBM; Creator, Machine Learning for Kids

Edson Prestes

Professor, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; Head of ϕ-Robotics Research Group

Fei Fang

Assistant Professor, Institute for Software Research, Carnegie Mellon University

Hugo Jair Escalante

Researcher Scientist, Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica, Optica y Electronica, INAOE

Qiang Yang

Chief AI Officer, WeBank; Chair Professor,
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Rada Mihalcea

Professor, Computer Science, University of Michigan; Director, Michigan AI Laboratory

Fredrik Heintz

Associate Professor of Computer Science, Linköping University

Justin Aglio

Director, Academic Achievement and District Innovation, Montour School District

May Casterline

Senior Solutions Architect, NVIDIA

Stefania Druga

Founder, Cognimates, MIT Media Lab; Ph.D candidate, University of Washington School of Information

Yexiang Xue

Assistant Professor, Purdue

Bistra Dilkina

Assistant Professor, Computer Science, University of Southern California; Associate Director, Center for AI in Society (CAIS)

Emilia Gomez Gutierrez

Lead Scientist, HUMAINT project at Centre for Advanced Studies, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Gabriel Torres

Co-founder, MicaSense

Iolanda Dos Santos Carvalho Leite

Assistant Professor, Department of Robotics, Perception and Learning, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)

Marie des Jardins

Dean, College of Organizational, Computational, and Information Sciences, Simmons University

Michael Fountaine

Technical Writer, Google, Engineering Education organization (engEDU)