The Program Office serves as the administrative home for the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE), providing technical assistance, developing resources, and supporting program sites and participating teachers. The Program Office manages communications and outreach and works alongside the Amgen Foundation to advance the ABE program.
The ABE Program Office is based at Education Development Center (EDC), a global nonprofit organization located outside Boston, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.edc.org. For general inquiries about ABE, email ABEInfo@edc.org. For implementation support and lab technician troubleshooting, email ABEImplementation@edc.org.
Rebecca Lewis
ABE Program Office Director
Rebecca provides leadership for the ABE Program Office, overseeing all aspects of the program and managing Program Office staff. She also manages program expansion and partner relationships.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Leadership and management
- Partner relations
- Program expansion
Courtney Arthur
Teaching and Learning Specialist
Courtney supports the ABE Program Office with curriculum development, co-leading the ABE Master Teacher Fellowship Program, and providing support for professional learning experiences across the network.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Development of professional learning support
- Curriculum production and integration with LabXchange
- Master Teacher Fellowship Program management and support
Kristen Bjork
ABE Content Development Director
Kristen is the lead content developer for ABE. She provides research and instructional design expertise.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Biotechnology content knowledge
- Curriculum development
- Technology integration
Libby Boghossian
ABE Resources Manager
Libby designs and develops multimedia resources to support the ABE program, manages curriculum and professional learning resources, and supports curriculum and professional learning. Libby can answer questions about ABE curriculum materials, pedagogical best practices for implementing ABE, and other ABE-related resources.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Curriculum development
- Professional learning support
- Resource management
Diane Courington
ABE Community and STEM Partnerships Liaison
Diane supports new and existing ABE program sites in developing partnerships to reach underserved populations. She also leverages community assets, local and regional Black-led organizations and initiatives, and STEM partnerships to support and scale ABE.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Partnership Development
- Site Support
Melody Hachey
Technology Associate
Melody supports the ABE Program Office through website development and technical assistance.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- ABE program website technical support
- ABE program site website technical support
Joseph Isaac
ABE Director of Curriculum and Professional Learning
Joseph manages and helps develop science curriculum materials along with accompanying professional development materials and training focused on molecular biology and biotechnology for lower and upper secondary schools. He leads the team in conducting community needs assessments and conceptualizing, developing, and facilitating curriculum and professional learning resources. He also advises program management and project staff on innovative content and concepts.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Curriculum writing and development
- Professional learning development and facilitation
- Integration of culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogical approaches
Jennifer Jocz
ABE Evaluation Research Associate
Jennifer supports the evaluation efforts of the ABE Program Office. Jennifer can answer questions about data collection, reporting, and sharing of program outcomes.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Program evaluation
- Data collection
- Outcomes sharing
Jessica Juliuson
ABE Director of Community and Strategy
Jessica engages program sites and teachers in a global community of practice to innovate, improve, and sustain the ABE program. She supports the Program Office and program sites to collaborate in order to maximize resources, people, and ideas to improve outcomes for all ABE students.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Management of ABE communities of practice
- Planning and facilitation of program meetings and cross-network events
- Strategic planning and capacity building
Nevin Katz
Technical Lead
Nevin is the lead web developer for ABE. He leads maintenance of the ABE site, and helps the team make key decisions about ABE's web presence.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Web development
- Technical project management
Silvia LaVita
ABE Program Office Coordinator
Silvia provides coordination for the ABE program and ABE Program Office activities. She tracks program site information, coordinates updates to promotional materials, and coordinates visits to ABE schools by legislators and policymakers.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Program coordination and planning
- Promotional materials
- School visit coordination
Sophia Mansori
ABE Evaluation Director
Sophia leads evaluation for the ABE program, supporting the Program Office and sites in documenting, understanding, and communicating the impact of ABE on teachers and students.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Program evaluation
- Continuous improvement
Leana Nordstrom
ABE Coordinator
Leana coordinates global and regional network meetings and events. She is the liaison with vendors and the Amgen Surplus Asset Management (SAM) program. She is also part of the ABE website development team.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Event planning
- SAM program and vendor liaison
- Website design and maintenance lead
Kerry Ouellet
ABE Managing Editor
Kerry supports the ABE Program Office communications and outreach efforts through website content development, publication of monthly and quarterly newsletters, and dissemination of news and products via social media. She also manages the ABE Volunteer Program, which facilitates visits by Amgen volunteers to ABE classrooms to share information about careers in biotech with students.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Program communications, including newsletters and social media
- Website design and management
- ABE Volunteer Program coordination
Amy Uluyurt
Administrative Assistant
Amy provides administrative support to the ABE Program Office. She maintains records, makes travel and meeting arrangements, and processes invoices and reimbursements.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Primary contact for the ABEInfo email account
- Administrative support
- Event planning and logistics coordination
Jennifer Yurof
Online Resource Development Specialist
Jen supports the ABE Program Office in the development and coordination of online resources to support and enhance the curriculum. Jen can answer questions about the LabXchange program.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Curriculum and professional learning resource development and dissemination
- Online communities of practice support
- LabXchange and ABE program alignment coordination
Consultants
Ronda Alexander
Equity, Access, and Engagement Liaison
Ronda is a collaborative leader dedicated to working with diverse communities as they align and leverage their resources towards transformational initiatives and goals. She is the founder and director of Global Reach Consulting, LLC, an organization focused on providing equity-based design and facilitation services.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Equity, access, and engagement working group lead
- Facilitation
- Systems change
Tara Bennett Bristow
Implementation and Technical Coordinator
Tara assists new ABE program sites with implementation and technical support. Alongside the Master Lab Technicians (MLTs), she works to optimize ABE laboratories and is available to consult with new program sites on the design and implementation of PDIs and of the ABE kit loan program.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Program implementation
- Technical support
- New ABE program site mentoring
Kristina Han
Master Lab Technician
Kristina is the site coordinator and lab technician for the ABE Canada site. Kristina works as one of the implementation support team members who ensures that ABE lab technicians have the support, resources, and guidance they need to effectively implement the ABE program. Kristina also mentors new ABE sites to ensure smooth onboarding.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Technical support
- New site mentoring
Karin Steinhauer
Master Lab Technician
Karin has worked on the ABE program since 2005, and is ABE-Los Angeles’ Pierce College site coordinator and the senior lab technician for ABE LA. Karin is one of the implementation support team members who ensures that ABE lab technicians have the support, resources, and guidance they need to effectively implement the ABE program. Karin also mentors new sites to provide additional focused support during onboarding. She is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and delivery of the ABE plasmids and columns to ABE program sites.
Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
- Technical support
- New site mentoring
- ABE plasmid and column coordinator