Project SYSTEMIC Team
A Systems-Thinking Approach to STEM Ecosystem Development in Chicago
Natasha Smith-Walker
PI
Natasha Smith-Walker is the Executive Director of Project Exploration and serves as the PI for Project SYSTEMIC. She works to ensure that there is equity, access and opportunity to broaden participation. In addition, her efforts have positioned Project Exploration to lead the STEM Learning Ecosystem initiative for Chicago.
Liz Lehman
Co-PI
Liz Lehman, PhD, is a School Development Manager at UChicago STEM Education. She supports teachers, schools, and districts as they work to improve science and engineering instruction for all students. She also develops science curricula for K-5 classrooms.
Jameela Jafri
Project Director
Jameela Jafri has spent nearly 18 years in the field of science education, focusing on youth from communities traditionally underrepresented in the sciences, especially girls. Through her work at Project Exploration, Jameela has designed, implemented, and evaluated numerous youth out-of-school time programs.
Pam Sydelko
Systems Scientist
Pamela Sydelko focuses on systems thinking approaches to extremely complex “wicked” problems. Her passion is the use of systems thinking by governments, communities, private industry and other organizations to help them better understand and manage complexity in their environments. She is President of Fat Node Consulting, with nearly 30 years experience at Argonne National Laboratory, where she directed the Systems Science Center.
Cecilia Garibay
Evaluator
Cecilia Garibay is a researcher, consultant and Principal of Garibay Group, an audience research and evaluation firm. She spends most of my time thinking about social transformation and the potential role of cultural organizations in society. Her work at Garibay Group focuses on helping organizations reflect on their roles in their communities and ways of remaining relevant and dynamic places that are authentically aligned with community values.
Rebecca Teasdale
Evaluator
Rebecca Teasdale is Senior Evaluation and Research Associate at Garibay Group. She focuses on helping organizations provide science learning experiences that foster equity and broaden participation through meaningful and relevant opportunities.