Meet Our Instructors
Stephanie Alden received her undergraduate degree from Carleton College where she majored in music and pre-med. She received her master's in education and teaching license from the University of Minnesota. Stephanie has over 12 years teaching experience. She has taught physical science, biology and interdisciplinary science in diverse settings, from public schools to international schools as well as being a naturalist at residential environmental education centers.
Abbi Allan is an artist inspired by her background in biology. Subjects of her work include organic forms as well as issues about chemical pollutants and their genetic effects. She is dedicated to using art to inform people about science. She volunteers at KFAI radio station as a DJ.
Deidre Anderson is an art education student at The College of Saint Catherine. Her concentrations are in photography, sculpture, and drawing. When Deidre graduates she plans to teach art and continue to pursue pet photography.
Genevieve Bergman has several years of experience in medical and veterinary laboratories. She has worked with horses since age 7 and has traveled to Egypt and five countries in Europe.
Sara Belleau has a Master of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art at Temple University. She is the recipient of NEA and State Arts Board grants for photography and has taught science and art classes at the museum for over 10 years.
Megan Blazek graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a B.A.S. in Life Science Education and an Educational Computing and Technology Certificate. She has taught in New Zealand and is a High School Forensics and Biology teacher at Chaska High School. She teaches for Learning Technologies at the museum.
Pauline Bold is a naturalist and historical interpreter with Three Rivers Park District and a naturalist at the Outdoor Center in Eden Prairie. She has taught classes at the museum for over 14 years. She loves to do projects with natural fibers, gardening, photography and writing.
Keith Braafladt is Sr. Manager of Research and Development for the Learning Technologies Center (LTC) at the Science Museum of Minnesota. A graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Keith teaches classes and workshops at the museum, in schools and in local libraries. He works with a team of creative staff who develop, design and integrate science content and learning into workshops, classes and online media that combine science, art and technology.
Jane Snell Copes has worked at the museum since 1993. Jane has managed the Experiment Gallery, researched new exhibits including the bathrooms in the River Gallery, and taught for School Outreach. Other disguises include chemist, gardener, swimmer, mom, and Habitat for Humanity carpenter. She owns a tiny business called Science Outside the Box, which offers science fun for kids and families.
Kathy Cork teaches archaeology and paleontology classes at the Science Museum including fossil fieldtrips for the family. She loves paleoanthropology, has a degree in anthropology and has been with the museum since 1983.
Kat Corrigan is an artist and a K-8 art teacher at St. Mark's School during the school year. She is a member of Chicks on Sticks, a women's stilting group that participates in events around the Twin Cities.
Jodi Dempsey is an elementary science specialist in the Burnsville School District and has taught for Mad Science programs. She has been teaching camps and classes for the Science Museum of Minnesota since 2004. Jodi attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received her teaching license from Hamline University. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, camping, canoeing and traveling to warm places.
Ericka Dennis has a B.A. in English and theater from the University of Minnesota. She coordinates arts programs in the public schools, was the early childhood expert for Hamline University's Urban Teacher Program, and was the director of the Tyehimba Learning Center for eight years.
Jan Elftmann is an artist and a long-time teacher for the Science Museum. She teaches carpentry, space and design classes throughout the year. She also does Artists-in-Education Program for the Minnesota State Arts Board. Jan is the founder and curator of the ArtCar Parade, the third Saturday in July, and can be seen around town driving her famous Cork Truck (www.corktruck.com).
Tonisha Farmer is an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota majoring in family social science with a minor in child psychology. She has been involved at the Science Museum for over eight years starting as a volunteer in the Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center, working as summer camp and Camp-In staff, and she attended camps when she was young.
Renate Fiora has a master's degree in teaching from the University of St. Thomas and has taught in Shakopee and in Albuquerque, N.M. She has also worked in the museum’s exhibit galleries.
Megan Frisk has a degree in biology and environmental studies from St. Olaf College and is currently finishing up her Masters in Teaching at Bethel University. She has been with the museum since 2005 and has worked in the Experiment and Mississipi River Galleries and for the Science Buzz website. She will begin teaching high school physical science in the fall.
Lori Funderburk is a secondary science teacher who has taught for the Science Museum since 1996. She has a strong background in theater as well.
Jim Gerholdt has been working with reptiles and amphibians for over 40 years and teaching classes at the museum since 1986. He uses artifacts, live animals and slides to illustrate behaviors and the natural history of his subjects. Jim is an accomplished photographer and author of children's books on reptiles, amphibians and insects.
Janet Groenert is the Science Camps Coordinator at the Science Museum of Minnesota. She is also an artist who has taught classes at the museum since 1982. She makes wearable art.
Peter Hoh has been taking things apart since he was a small child. Sometimes, he even manages to put things back together. An avid gardener, his other interests include photography, design, and LEGO. He's been active in a neighborhood art initiative, Paint The Pavement, which is painting residential intersections in St. Paul. For the past 10 years, Peter has been teaching classes at the Science Museum. Before that, he was a fourth-grade teacher in Pennsylvania, where he developed a hands-on science curriculum.
Donna Homan has taught at the Science Museum since 1993. She has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and she loves to teach chemistry and physics classes. She currently works for District 196 schools as a technology support assistant and as a coach of a Lego League team.
Rebecca Huberty is a registered nurse and has a master's degree in education with a specialty in social studies and a concentration in science. She has taught nursing classes to adults and taught in schools for grades K-8. She has also coached volleyball, soccer and softball.
Kendra Hunding has a B.A in biology, earth science and elementary education, and an M.A.Ed in natural science and environmental education from Hamline University. She loves animals. She likes to ride horses, and has many unusual pets including four chinchillas. She has been teaching at the museum for over 15 years.
Mardis Johnson is pursuing an elementary education degree at St. Cloud State University. He is well versed in the programming languages of Microworlds and Scratch. He has been teaching at the museum since 2000.
Peter Kirschman is originally from Milwaukee, WI and has been living in the Twin Cities for about five years. He has a B.A. in Media Studies and American Studies. In addition to the Learning Technologies Center, he works as a camp-in supervisor at the museum and as a youth media educator. You can often find him on his bike or on the 94 express bus.
Susan Kocher has a master's degree in science education and environmental education. She has presented Starlab programs, was a naturalist at Wood Lake Nature Center, and taught at museums, zoos and the Marine Science Institute in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is fluent in German and also teaches at the German Immersion School.
Lee Korby has a B.A. in secondary education and biology. She has taught in New Zealand and worked for many years for Camp Buckskin in Ely.
Jill Bries Korpik has a master's degree in geology and a background and interest in biology and meteorology. She has been teaching for the museum since 2002. She is currently a geology and geography instructor at Inver Hills Community College.
Jackie Lannin has been teaching art and science classes for over 25 years. She has a K-8 license and is currently an early childhood educator. Jackie has been at the Science Museum since 1995, where she teaches everything from entomology to archaeology.
Sarah Meier is a technology specialist at a K-8 school in the Twin Cities. She is a licensed teacher with a master's degree in education. Sarah is very excited to be a part of the Science Museum teaching team and can't wait to be amazed by the creativity and talent of her camp participants.
Kim Meirose has a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and Visual Art from Drake University. She has taught science classes for the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Science Center of Iowa. Kimberly has taught art and math classes at St. Croix Preparatoy Academy in Stillwater and this year will be teaching Gifted and Talented classes in Faribault. She teaches Scottish dancing and loves spending time outdoors biking and hiking.
Kristen Murray has a degree in electrical engineering from Rice University. She has taught and coordinated classes in Learning Technologies at the museum for several years. She also works at a school and in an after-school program, helping students do creative projects that combine technology, art, engineering and storytelling. She plays in a gamelan ensemble in her spare time.
Karla Ollanketo is a licensed teacher who was taught high school biological science classes in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She also teaches a variety of crafting classes to adults, teens and school-age children. She has a B.S. in life science education from the University of Minnesota and is proficient in American Sign Language. Karla has been making science fun for kids for 19 years.
Lizzie Paulson has a B.S. in biology from the University of Minnesota, and she is finishing her master’s in secondary education-life science from the College of St. Catherine’s. Lizzie is a preschool teacher in the Minneapolis district. This is her fourth summer with the Science Museum and she is excited for another fascinating year.
Renee Petersen is earning her master's in teaching at Hamline University and has worked for more than 10 years in theater production. She was the theater technical director at Stillwater Senior High School for more than six years and is currently a living historian in Colonel Shawn Gaffney's Regiment of Shot and Pike.
Aaron Pierson has a B.A. in theater arts and has worked for theaters in Minnesota and the United Kingdom. He is in the Master of Liberal Studies program at the University of Minnesota, has taught and trained staff for Mad Science, and has taught for the Science Museum since 1999.
Kasey Pierson is looking forward to her first summer at the Science Museum. She currently teaches computer classes for elementary school kids in the Centennial School District. She loves teaching kids on both computers platforms (Mac and PC). In her spare time she judges gymnastics and referees volleyball. She received her teaching degree from Winona State University.
Jodie Prohaska has a B.S. in conservation biology from the University of Wisconsin and a graduate certificate in environmental education. She teaches science at Humboldt High School in St. Paul.
Karen Randall has been an elementary school teacher since 1983. She currently teaches fifth and sixth grade in St. Paul. Her interests include thematic instruction and technology integration. One of her hobbies is carving wooden bowls and utensils by hand.
Spencer Ruskin is a Flash web development student at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He has a deep and abiding love of computers that borders on techno-addiction.
Will Schar is a local freelance artist and designer with a strong grasp of visual narratives. He applied these skills as a key storyboard artist for the Independent film "Regular Joe" and hopes to someday make a career of using those skills to author and illustrate a series of graphic novels for kids and adults. When not drawing or teaching for the Science Museum he is fighting, crime and chilling out with his friends, trying to enjoy the post-college life while listening to a lot of "Avenue Q."
Diane Schmitz is an assistant principal with the Minneapolis Public Schools. She has been a camp director for the Science Museum since 1994.
Natalie Selinski holds degrees in mathematics and art from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR and graduate work from the University of Colorado. She has seven years of teaching experience and loves combining math, science, art and education. When not teaching, Natalie enjoys painting with mixed media, spending time outdoors, and traveling (especially west).
Patty Selly has a wide range of experience in natural science education and sustainable environmental practices. In addition to her teaching experience, Patty is an appointed member of the Minneapolis Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee. She has a B.A from Metropolitan State University and an M.A. Ed in Natural Sciences and Environmental Education from Hamline University.
Lena Solyntjes has a B.A. in elementary education and a special interest in early education; she studied child development in Denmark. She attended Science Museum camps and classes when she was young.
Martin Staehnke has a B.A. in social studies and is receiving a license in secondary education from Hamline University. He is an assistant scoutmaster in Boy Scouts and has many years of experience working with youth. Martin attended Science Museum classes and camps as a youth and has returned to be a teacher and camp director in the program.
Megan Storm is part musician, part visual artist, and part computer geek. She is thrilled to teach at the Learning Technologies Center where she gets to explore all three. When she's not teaching, she enjoys yoga, adventures, and building things. Megan studied music at the University of Kansas.
Sabrina Sutliff-Gross coordinates and teaches workshops for youth that integrate technology and art in Learning Technologies. She also plans and implements learning opportunities for adults including the NISE Net fora, adult classes, and workshops. She earned her B.F.A. in drawing, with a focus in scientific illustration, and her master's of education in art at the University of Minnesota.
Isaiah Thomas has worked with Youth and Family Programs for eight years. He earned his bachelor's degree in mathematical economics at Colorado College, and is pursuing a master's degree in college student personnel and higher education administration at the University of Maryland, College Park. Isaiah has been with the Science Museum since age 11, working in the Kitty Andersen Youth Science Center, and as a camp participant. He teaches math, carpentry and movie magic classes, along with being a camp director.
Todd Townley graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where he fed his interests with a wide range of art. He continues to learn about physics and zoology, which inspire his artwork. He is currently developing a freelance photography business.
Anastasia Ward is a kinetic sculptor that has displayed her work regionally and nationally. She has worked as an Artist in Residence at the Kulture Klub Collaborative, a program for at risk homeless youth, the Teen Program at the Walker Art Center, and the LTC Lab at the Science Museum of Minnesota. She enjoys working with youth of all ages, and teaching them how to get their ideas into the 3rd dimension.
Polly Williamson has taught school above the Arctic Circle in Alaska and is a science specialist for the St. Paul Public Schools. She is working toward her master's degree in education with an emphasis on science. She loves the history of science and unsolved mysteries. When not teaching she is an avid reader, dancer and keeper of two naughty cats.