For nearly two decades, the ASTC Diversity and Leadership Development Fellows Program nurtured emerging leaders from underrepresented groups employed by ASTC-member science and technology centers and museums. In 2022, the program was reimagined under the new name, the ASTC New Leaders Fellowship Program.
ASTC updated the fellowship to provide professional development, a peer network, and opportunities to acquire and develop leadership skills that leverage the unique perspectives and experiences the Fellows bring to their work. The curriculum centers diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and equity (DAIE) and supports future leaders who embody inclusive and visionary leadership and are skilled in managing the people and processes to make those visions happen.
The fellowship benefits the participants, ASTC-member institutions, and the field at large by:
- Offering skill-based leadership development opportunities to science center and museum professionals from historically underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds who aim to move into leadership roles in their career.
- Providing opportunities for ongoing learning and dialogue between participants and established leaders who model skilled leadership and shared identities with fellows.
- Providing ASTC-member institutions with an opportunity to diversify their leadership pipeline, contributing to future innovation and growth.
- Supporting an ever-expanding network of highly skilled leaders in the field.
Program Highlights
The New Leaders Fellowship is a 9-month hybrid program that includes monthly virtual workshops, with the 2023-2024 cohort kicking off in September 2023 and an in-person component at ASTC’s 2023 Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina from October 7-10. Ahead of the conference, fellows will participate in a one-day workshop on Friday, October 6. Fellows will then participate in the full conference experience. Through May 2024, Fellows will take part in monthly virtual, skill-building workshops, as well as conversations with peers and other leaders in the field.
The 2023-2024 Cohort
Alex Croft (she/they)
Museum Supervisor, Palouse Discovery Science Center, Pullman, Washington
Alex Croft is working as museum supervisor at the Palouse Discovery Science Center. With a Bachelor’s degree in History and Anthropology from the University of Idaho, Alex initially explored teaching before discovering her true calling in informal STEAM education. She channels her passion into fostering accessibility and inclusivity in museums for rural communities, with hopes that the magic of science and exploration reaches every corner. Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds fulfillment in the pages of books, cooking and baking, and hangin’ with her Bulldogs – Steve, Dave, and Burt.
Aylaia Sifuentes (she/her)
Development & Membership Coordinator, International Museum of Art & Science, McAllen, Texas
An avid believer in the power of museums to change lives, Aylaia Sifuentes credits her experiences at the science museums she frequented as a child for shaping much of who she is today. Having grown up in a low-income household, Aylaia was able to visit local museums frequently thanks to the discount initiatives they offered. The captivating exhibits ignited a lifelong fascination with the wonders of science, sparking an insatiable curiosity and love for learning which led to her museum career, now spanning the better part of a decade.
One of Aylaia’s proudest professional accomplishments is her establishment of a “pay it forward” program at her museum. This program allows individuals and museum members to donate designated funds to provide museum memberships to underprivileged families, opening the doors for children like her to access all the wonders of the museum. Looking to the future, Aylaia envisions continued personal growth within the museum field. Her long-term goals include contributing to the development of more inclusive and accessible educational programs and exhibits that serve as dynamic community resources for inspiration and cultural enrichment. Beyond the museum’s walls, Aylaia finds adventure in travel with her soon-to-be husband, and she can’t help but gather inspiration from visiting museums along the way.
Caite Debevec (she/her)
Early Childhood Education Manager, Maryland Science Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Caite is an educator, conductor, and musician living and working in Baltimore City. She currently serves as the Early Childhood Education Manager at the Maryland Science Center where she spends her days laughing, experimenting, asking questions, pretending, and being silly with the museum’s youngest guests. As an educator, she aims to create quality STEAM learning experiences while maintaining safe, supportive, joyful spaces for all young scientists, both inside and outside of the museum walls. Outside of work, Caite is the music director for the Baltimore Men’s Chorus and the Baltimore Women’s Chorale, and a voice instructor working with trans, non-binary, and GNC singers. In her spare time, you can find Caite attempting to brew the perfect cup of coffee and performing her one-woman adaptation of Mamma Mia in her kitchen.
Danae Pineda (she/her/ella)
Associate Director of Education, Children’s Museum of Tucson, Tucson, Arizona
Danae Pineda has called the Sonoran Desert home all her life, growing up in México, and currently residing in Tucson, Arizona where she acts as the Associate Director of Education at Children’s Museum Tucson. In this role she is able to provide opportunities for the community to engage in fun, interactive and meaningful STEAM-focused experiences by helping nurture and strengthen the educational programs and content at the museum, especially for Spanish-speaking and underrepresented families and children, focusing on acknowledging and celebrating non-traditional approaches to STEAM. During her free time, you will find Danae listening to music and singing along, attending concerts or at the local community radio station, where she hosts a weekly music radio show every Monday night.
Frantz Lucien Jr. (he/him)
Coordinator of Strategic Education Initiatives, New York Hall of Science, Corona, New York
Frantz Lucien Jr. is a dedicated educator and passionate STEM advocate, committed to culturally responsive education and equitable access. As the Coordinator of Strategic Education Initiatives at The New York Hall of Science, he shapes impactful STEM experiences for students, teachers, and families from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and experiences. Frantz manages the Urban Advantage program at NYSCI, collaborating with a network of partners from other cultural institutions in the effort to create NGSS-aligned professional development that engages different learners in various ways. With a B.A. in Communication from the University of Scranton and an M.A. in Communication/Rhetorical Studies from Hofstra University, Frantz combines his passion of connection with others with STEM, aiming to create dynamic programming that is relevant and encourages agency among learners. During his free time, you can find Frantz enjoying Hip Hop music, playing basketball, biking, or traveling with his family.
Ian Trevethan (he/him)
Education Director, Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Hays, Kansas
Ian earned a Bachelor of Science in earth sciences from Montana State University and a Master of Science in Geosciences from Fort Hays State University. His graduate works consist of isotopic analysis of core body temperature in mosasaurs. He has also participated in research projects regarding individual cranial variation in dinosaurs. Ian has served as the Education Outreach Coordinator at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History from 2011-2015 and as Education Director since 2015. He is committed to educating the general public in all facets of paleontological, geological and natural sciences, particularly through museum outreach programs.
Jeehyun Park (she/her)
Director of STEM Education Growth, Science Mill, Johnson City, Texas
Jeehyun is the Director of STEM Education Growth at the Science Mill, where she drives optimization of processes, materials, and technology for educational programs. Born and raised in Midland and educated at Texas A&M and UT Austin for engineering undergrad and grad school, Jeehyun is #texasforever. After graduate school, Jeehyun taught high school physics and coached girls volleyball and boys powerlifting for 4 years, before moving into an administrative role leading project-based learning campuses. Jeehyun joined the Science Mill team in February 2022, and has been able to use both her engineering and education experiences to manage and expand large-scale programs, both on- and off-site, to provide interactive STEM career exploration and experiences to underserved students across Texas and beyond. Outside of work, you can usually find Jeehyun spoiling her two tiny monsters (dogs), Beans and Alfie, or hunting down the best chocolate babka in town.
Jessica Harvey (she/her)
Education and Outreach Manager, National Children’s Museum, Washington, DC
Jessica has been the Education and Outreach Manager at National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C. since January 2022. She is passionate about community engagement and implementing mission-driven programming to audiences of all ages. Prior to joining National Children’s Museum, Jessica spent over four years at the International Spy Museum in D.C. and taught abroad in Suzhou, Nanjing and Beijing, China. She has a Masters from Johns Hopkins in Museum Studies with a focus on education. When Jessica is not at work, you’ll likely find her having dance parties with her 3 year old son, husband and cat.
Marcos Medellin (he/him)
Exhibitions Manager, The Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas
Marcos, a dedicated advocate for the arts, earned a BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he immersed himself in art as an existential human endeavor, while also sharpening his skills in the technical and administrative components that allow artists to cultivate success through gallery and exhibition design. Returning to his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, Marcos found his calling at The Witte Museum where he began as an Exhibit Preparator and now works as the Exhibitions Manager. With both this strong foundation in the arts and his experience at The Witte Museum, Marcos has applied his craft and understanding to be an agent for cultivating spaces that help shape and co-construct what the community experiences in an exhibit, all while effectively contributing to museum work.
Melanie Twardzicki (she/her)
Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, Exploratorium, San Francisco, California
Melanie is the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at the Exploratorium, where she guides the budgeting and forecasting processes for the organization. She views her job as helping cultural organizations remain financially sound in order to provide life-changing experiences for people well into the future. Her desire is that her work helps an organization do its best work now and 10, 20 and 50 years into the future. Originally from New York, Melanie’s career started in art museums and cultural organizations, working with the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA PS1. After moving to San Francisco, Melanie joined the Exploratorium and has been in the science center/museum space ever since. Melanie graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Applied Economics and Management. When not at work, Melanie enjoys exploring the Bay Area’s many playgrounds and museums with her husband and toddler.
Sarah Irizarry (she/her)
Head of Volunteer and Intern Services, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina
Sarah was born and raised in Kentucky, and now calls North Carolina home after relocating for her husband’s job. Volunteerism has been a part of her life from a young age, regularly volunteering in the community with Girl Scouts and her church. Sarah has served as the Head of Volunteer and Intern Services at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences since December 2021. She started at NCMNS as a guest services volunteer in 2017. She worked her way up through the institution holding positions in guest services, volunteer services, and education. In her current position, she oversees volunteer and intern operations across the museum’s five sites. Sarah is passionate about creating opportunities for more diverse groups of people to get involved at the museum. Her team strives to provide excellent customer service while facilitating connections across the museum network and local community. Sarah graduated with a B.A in Anthropology from the University of Central Florida. In her free time she can be found playing games online with friends, traveling with her husband, and spending time with her dogs and cat.
Vanessa Lu (she/her)
Manager of Strategic Communications, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada
Vanessa Lu is Manager of Strategic Communications at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Canada. She leads communications strategy and media relations for the organization, which includes developing plans to promote exhibitions, programs and experiences. Prior to joining the Ontario Science Centre, Vanessa worked as a reporter and editor at the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. She specialized in covering municipal politics, health and business. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Queen’s University and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Outside of work, she has a busy family life with her husband and two teens — as chef and chauffeur, but fingers crossed, the teens can take on those jobs, soon!
Yitzack Balmaceda (he/him)
Manager of Floor Operations and Volunteers, Michigan Science Center, Detroit, Michigan
Yitzack is an emerging museum professional working in Detroit, Michigan. Yitzack is currently the Manager of Floor Operations and Volunteers at the Michigan Science Center, as well as a part time programs assistant for the Michigan Museum Association. As the Manager of Floor Operations and Volunteers, Yitzack helps coordinate a team of part-time and full-time guest relations staff across the Michigan Science Center and maintain daily operations to create a welcoming, safe, and fun environment for guests. Yitzack has a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and East Asian Studies with a focus on Chinese language and history and has previously worked in part-time museum education roles at The Zekelman Holocaust Center. Outside of work Yitzack likes to spend his time reading horror novels, watching Kaiju flicks, and making bad art. Yitzack’s name is pronounced Eat-Zahk.
ASTC Program Facilitators
Melissa Ballard, Director of Programs
Amanda Fisher, Associate Director of Programs
Contact
For questions about the New Leaders Fellowship, please email the Impact & Inclusion team.