The Largest, Most Unified Coalition Advocating for STEM
The STEM Education Coalition is a 501C4 non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness amongst policymakers at every level about the critical role that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education plays in enabling the U.S. to remain the economic and technological leader of the global marketplace of the 21st century. The Coalition believes that our nation must improve the way our students learn STEM and that the business, education, and STEM communities must work together to achieve this goal.
Our Team
James Brown
Executive Director
Prior to joining the Coalition, James Brown was Director of Advocacy at the American Chemical Society. A nuclear engineer by training, he previously worked as a Legislative Aide for Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington, was Director of Policy and Development at the Consumer Energy Council of America, and began his career as an engineer with Newport News Shipbuilding, working on aircraft carrier construction. He received a B.S. from the University of New Mexico and an M.S. from Penn State, both in nuclear engineering. He also holds an MBA from George Washington University.
Austin Hall
Director of Policy
Austin Hall is Director of Policy, focusing on government relations, research, and member advocacy initiatives for the coalition. Hall specializes in policy and advocacy efforts relating to the federal government research and STEM education portfolio; systems alignment; education pathways in STEM; informal STEM learning; workforce development; and state STEM strategies.
Hall previously served in the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) Austin is a graduate from the University North Texas.
Jeffrey Weld, Ph.D., serves the STEM Education Coalition as a senior policy advisor. Jeff has extensive experience working at all levels of the STEM education enterprise from federal policymaking to teaching and educational administration.
A decorated educator and published author, Jeff has previously served as senior policy advisor and assistant director for the Office of Science & Technology Policy at the White House, executive director of Iowa governor’s STEM Advisory Council and chief innovation officer of the Iowa Department of Education, as well as a high school teacher and college professor. His published works help guide practitioners and policymakers in advancing America’s STEM directive.
Jeff is also proprietor of an executive consulting service for clients sharing America’s STEM imperative ranging from national nonprofits and philanthropic investors to state and local organizations and government entities. With nearly 40 years’ experience in various STEM-related avenues, Jeff is a visionary and leading voice on STEM in America.
Jeff Weld
Senior Policy Advisor
Board of Directors
Todd Mann
Board Member, Chair
Executive Director
National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools
Thomas Phillips
Senior Congressional Affairs Specialist Battelle
Dr. Anita Krishnamurthi
President, Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS)
Afterschool Alliance
Stewart Barber
Director of Government Affairs
Semiconductor Industry Association
Tyler Kloefkorn
Associate Director, Office of Government Relations
American Mathematic Society
Dr. Erika Shugart
Executive Director
National Science Teaching Association
Anthony Pitagno
Director of Global Government Affairs
American Chemical Society
Karen Horting
Chief Executive Officer
Society of Women Engineers
Allyson Knox
Senior Director of Education Policy and Programs
Microsoft
Ken Krehbiel
Executive Director
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics