| Math Options Presenters and Panel Members - 2008 |
HONORARY GUEST SPEAKER
Erica Grow, WPVI-TV
Erica Grow has been the weekend morning meteorologist for Channel 6 since January 2007. She graduated from Penn State University in 2002 with Bachelor of Science in Meteorology. Her first job in TV weather was at KMID-TV in Midland, Texas. She then became the Weekend Meteorologist for WHP-TV in Harrisburg, PA before joining 6ABC. Erica has considered herself a science buff ever since growing up in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.
PRESENTERS & PANELISTS
Jayme Alford received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology from Penn State University.
She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology and a Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with specialties in Microbiology and Lab Management from Thomas Jefferson University (TJU). She has worked as a quality control microbiology technologist at Penn Maid/Crowley Foods Dairy Farm and at WaWa Dairy Farm, and as a medical technologist at TJU hospital. Jayme is currently employed at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) where she is a medical technologist working in the field of clinical virology.
Dr. Ann Bacon is the Director of Curriculum in Abington School District. Prior to her current position, Dr. Bacon was the Coordinator of Mathematics, K-12 and a secondary school mathematics teacher. She graduated from Chestnut Hill College with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and earned a Masters Degree in Education and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Bacon has served as the president of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics of Philadelphia and Vicinity (ATMOPAV) and of the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She is a member of the Math Options Advisory Board.
Justine Baker is a former instructor of microbiology for allied health students at Penn State Abington from 1978 to 2005. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from College of St Rose, Albany, New York and her Master of Science Degree in Microbiology from Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. Additionally, she has done graduate work in the field of virology at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Justine is a member of the Math Options Advisory Board, as well as the American Society for Microbiology, a national organization that promotes research, education, workshops and a variety of resources in the field of microbiology.
Dr. Lois H. Barson works as an adjunct assistant professor at LaSalle University as well as an independent consultant. She has worked in the Philadelphia School District as a teacher, mathematics co-coordinator, special projects' director, and assistant superintendent. She has been a presenter at local, state, regional and national mathematics conferences. In addition, she has taught at Widener University, Arcadia University (Beaver College) and Eastern University, and has served as a consultant and professional development provider to suburban school districts, private schools, and charter schools. Lois is a member of the Math Options Advisory Board.
Nikisha Bent received her B.S. in Chemistry from Benedict College in Columbia, SC. For the past 5+ years, she has been working as a Scientist at Rohm and Haas Company. Her responsibilities include product development for the Paint Additive segment of the company. Nikisha is also involved in volunteering programs such as Big Brother Big Sister of Montgomery County and Rohm and Haas Explorer Post.
LT Heidi Gizaw grew up in Iowa where her High School interests were in music, theatre, and debate. Heidi was awarded a four-year Navy ROTC scholarship. She graduated May of 2000 from Marquette University with a degree in Civil Engineering, and a minor in Naval Sciences. Heidi was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy and began her military career on board the USS Briscoe as the Communications and Information Technologies Officer. In 2003 she was transferred to the USS John S McCain, stationed out of Yokosuka, Japan. From 2004 to 2007, Heidi completed her shore tour as a math instructor at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island. She taught Algebra, Trigonometry, and Calculus to students who had appointments to the Naval Academy for the following year. In 2007, Heidi began her civilian career as the Supply Chain Project Engineering Manager for Tasty Baking Company. She works as a process engineer, internal analyst, and project manager for the construction of a state of the art bakery and distribution center at the old navy yard in Philadelphia. Heidi is also a Navy reservist attached to the European Command stationed out of Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Dr. Beth Gordesky-Gold holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Sciences from Penn State University. In 1990 she received her doctoral degree from Temple University and has conducted postdoctoral work from 1997 to 2004 at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently a research associate at Monell Chemical Senses Center where she studies the genetics of taste in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). Drosophila are a powerful genetic model that can be used to gain rapid insight into human taste processes and behavior. Like humans, Drosophila are omnivores with dietary needs and ingestive controls that appear human-like. Current experiments focus on natural variability in taste behavior and correlating extreme taste variants with polymorphisms in taste genes and surrounding regulatory regions.
Melissa Johnson is a senior scientist at Rohm and Haas where she has worked for seven years. She has a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Northwestern University and currently leads a group developing new materials for industrial coatings (bridges, rail cars, office furniture, etc.). She has previously worked on projects to improve the performance and appearance of house paint and even hairspray.
Dr. Linda Miller is the Director of Strategic Microbiology for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharmaceuticals. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and her master's degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Miller currently has Global responsibilities at GSK and interacts with teams across the Infectious Diseases pipeline from Discovery to Development. Her research and specialty areas include: global antimicrobial surveillance systems, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, in-vitro methodologies, susceptibility testing breakpoints, bacterial identification methodologies, immunofluorescence and science policy.
Dr. Jacqueline Rattigan is proud to have served on the Math Options Advisory Board since its inception. At that time, she was a high school mathematics teacher at the Neshaminy School District. Jacqueline's career has since shifted into the field of educational administration. She has served for the Neshaminy School District as a high school assistant principal, 6-12 grade summer school principal, elementary principal, and currently as director of elementary education. Jacqueline holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Chestnut Hill College, two Masters degrees in Educational Administration and Counseling Services from Rider University and a Doctoral degree from Temple University in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
Barbara Shoap graduated from Penn State University in 1969 with a degree in Elementary Education. She received her Masters Degree in Learning Disabilities from Temple University. Barbara has taught K-12 and Special Needs in Neshaminy and Philadelphia Public Schools. She has also taught at Massachusetts Community College, Lesley College, Northeastern University Graduate School and in the US Virgin Islands school district. Barbara is a recent retiree from George Washington High School where she was a math teacher.
Captain Linda Wackerman is a MD-80 First Officer with American Airlines where she has accumulated over 4,000 civilian flight hours. After graduating from Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado, and Aviation Officer Candidate School she was commissioned an Ensign in September 1986 and was designated a Naval Aviator in October of 1987. She transferred from Active to Reserve duty in June 1999. Captain Wackerman recently took command of Navy Reserve, Commander Navy Region Mid Atlantic Regional Operations Center (ROC) in Norfolk, Virginia where she assumed command on December 1st, 2007 of a 60 personnel unit supporting Navy Region Mid-Atlantic's 300 personnel staff and ROC.
