Our Program Office

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.

Meet Our Team

  • 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

  • Jessica Juliuson

    ABE Professional Learning and Networking Director

    Jessica oversees professional learning experiences across the ABE network and engages sites in a global community of practice to innovate and improve the ABE program.
    Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
    • Development of cross-network experiences
    • Strategic planning for professional learning
    • Capacity building for sites

  • 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

  • Kerry Ouellet

    ABE Managing Editor

    Kerry supports the ABE Program Office communications and outreach efforts.
    Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
    • Program communications, including newsletters and social media
    • Website design and management
    • ABE Volunteer Program 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

  • 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

  • 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
    • Development of accessibility strategies and options
    • 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

  • Elissa West-Frazier

    Curriculum and Professional Learning Advisor

    Elissa is an evaluator and instructional coach who specializes in culturally responsive evaluation and supporting school systems with professional learning in the areas of culturally responsive teaching, instructional design, and technology integration. Elissa can provide resources and support to ABE program sites to support a diverse range of learners.
    Key Tasks and Areas of Focus:
    • Professional development for program sites
    • Instructional design
    • Culturally responsive teaching and learning

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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
Total Student Participation
~850k
Teacher Participation in a Typical School Year
1,500