The SmartLab Advisory Team: Driving STEM Excellence

SmartLab has assembled a distinguished advisory team of STEM education experts to ensure our offerings meet the highest standards of excellence and relevance.

Our advisors bring diverse expertise from education, industry, and research, focusing on:

  • Curriculum development and implementation
  • Educational technology integration
  • STEM outreach and accessibility
  • Project-based learning methodologies
  • Educational policy and research

This team plays a crucial role in validating our curriculum model and gathering efficacy data. Their insights help us continuously refine our products to:

  • Align with current educational best practices
  • Incorporate cutting-edge technology
  • Promote equity in STEM education
  • Enhance student engagement and outcomes
  • Develop critical thinking skills

Explore our advisors’ profiles to see how their expertise ensures SmartLab’s solutions effectively prepare your students for future success.

The SmartLab Advisory Team:

Becky McDowell
PhD, MA Ed

Becky McDowell is a passionate STEM education leader with over 14 years of experience teaching science and STEM in grades PreK-8. Currently serving as a Science SME: STEM/Hands-On Specialist at Britannica Education, Becky develops hands-on lessons for their Expedition: Learn! program. She holds an M.S. in Natural Science from the University of Wyoming and a STEM Certificate from Tufts University. Becky’s expertise includes curriculum development, assessment design, and product management. Her innovative work has earned her recognition as an Illinois STEM Educator of the Year Finalist and an ITEEA Program Excellence Award recipient.

Brian beierle
MA Ed

Brian Beierle is the Science Education Practice Lead & Sr. Learning Analyst at Vivayic’s Relevant Classroom division. With over 20 years of experience in STEM education, Brian specializes in NGSS, human systems dynamics, human-centered design, and career and technical education (CTE). He excels in curriculum design, implementation, and creating professional learning experiences that enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Brian’s expertise in real-world applications, equity, and lifelong learning allows him to develop dynamic educational experiences that contextualize sustainability, resilience, and food systems.

Farah Faruqi
PhD, MS

Farah Faruqi, PhD candidate and Director of STEM Education at Project Scientist, is dedicated to advancing STEM education and promoting educational equity. With a background in Physiology and Genetics, Farah brings diverse experience as a STEM educator, facilitator, and curriculum developer. Her research, published in ASEE, focuses on improving STEM education accessibility. Farah has co-authored policy reports with MIT on effective remote learning implementation. As the first woman in her family to pursue higher education, she’s passionate about providing high-quality STEM experiences to underserved girls in K-12 education.

Richard Ezike
PhD

Dr. Richard Ezike, Founder of Doctor Richard LLC, is a Clean Technology Project Manager at Argonne National Laboratory. With over a decade of engagement in STEM outreach through the National Society of Black Engineers, Richard has volunteered extensively in inner cities, exposing youth to engineering concepts. He speaks at conferences on energy, transportation, and environmental justice, and advises on related curricula. Passionate about STEM/STEAM outreach, Richard is committed to passing down knowledge to future generations, inspired by his parents who motivated his engineering pursuits.

Jim Egenrieder
PhD, MA Ed

Dr. Jim Egenrieder is Research Faculty and Director of K-20 STEM Education at Virginia Tech. As the first STEM Education specialist in his county, Jim designs and implements STEM programs locally and internationally. He introduces over 4,000 students annually to physical computing & technical careers through his Washington, D.C. area Lab. With extensive experience teaching Agriculture, Biology, Environmental Sciences, and Technology Engineering, Jim is also a graduate professor and researcher. His work spans from designing the first STEM Academy to current roles in the Colleges of Engineering and Natural Resources.

Michael Gorman
MA Ed

Michael Gorman, CEO of 21centuryedtech, is a long-time advocate for STEM education with over 40 years of experience. He has overseen STEM education grants impacting hundreds of teachers and thousands of students across Indiana. Michael has presented STEM education keynotes and workshops in over 35 states, collaborating with organizations like ISTE, PBL Works, and Discovery Education. His accolades include Indiana US Air Force STEM Educator of the Year, EdTech Top 50 Educator, and Microsoft Top Global Educator. Michael holds certifications in Educational Leadership and EdTech from Johns Hopkins University and ISTE.

Andreina Parisi-Amon
PhD, MS

Dr. Andreina Parisi-Amon, PhD in Bioengineering from Stanford University, is a STEM education leader with 15 years of experience across academia and industry. She recently led the Learning and Teaching team at Engageli, focusing on collaborative online learning. Andreina’s career spans K-12 applied learning development, curriculum creation, and team leadership at Coursera. With firsthand knowledge of STEM careers and extensive experience in research and partnerships, she is passionate about making STEM pursuits accessible and enjoyable for students. Andreina believes in the power of the engineering mindset to positively impact various fields.