Our Team
Our Team
Core Team
The Core Team leads the design, coordination, and communication of all STEMarts Lab programming. With expertise in STEAM education, new media production, and marketing communications, this team creates immersive learning experiences that prepare youth to become changemakers. From concept to execution, the Core Team ensures each project builds 21st century workplace skills and connects students to global networks through real-world, future-focused opportunities.
Agnes Chavez is a new media artist, educator and creative producer whose work merges art, science and technology to create data visualized light-sound experiences. In 2009 she founded the STEMarts Lab which designs sci-art installations for art/science organizations and festivals and develops STEAM programming that empowers youth and prepares them for the 21st century workplace. In 2014 she co-founded The PASEO Festival where she served as co-director/youth program director until 2019. She is founder of the Sube Language Curriculum since 1996. Agnes collaborates with educators, artists, scientists and interdisciplinary experts to create participatory sci-art installations such as Space Messengers, whose mission is to ignite scientific curiosity and wonder, visualizing thought-provoking reflections on the universe and encouraging participants to contemplate their role within it.
Carey followed an unconventional path to realize her true potential for leading teams and building communities, both inside and out of the workplace. Her passion for sharing stories and articulating complex ideas give her a well-rounded skill set to operate at all levels from the production floor to the boardroom. A passionate certified educator, Carey is accredited in public relations and has an extensive background in continual improvement and quality assurance.
Julia Doke has been an Ambassador and artist with STEMarts Lab since 2023. She recently completed the Department of Workforce Development Pre-Apprenticeship program with STEMarts to advance her social media management skills and now serves as STEMarts Lab’s Social Media Manager. A UNM graduate with a bachelor’s in Animation and Digital Arts, Julia has created 3D models of astrophysical concepts for STEMarts exhibits and co-instructed courses on modeling, texturing, and animating in CG Blender, including building GLB models for AR installations. She also has a background in digital illustration and graphic design for both professional and personal projects. A New Mexico native, Julia is passionate about visual arts, biology/ecology, and STEAM-based learning.
Shaylee Mirabal joined the STEMarts Lab team in 2023 as an Ambassador and worked her way to Director’s Assistant Apprentice, funded through the Taos Pueblo Education and Training Division Apprenticeship program. She is now part of the STEMarts team as the Directors Assistant while she attends the University of New Mexico studying nursing. In addition she leads workshops and runs STEMarts events as production manager.
Ivan Rodriguez-Holguin came to us a LANL Scholar intern and then was hired on to join the STEMarts Team as social media video editor. He creates all our video reels in collaboration with our social media STEAMTeam. Ivan graduated from the University of Denver
with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Computer Science. He is currently at CNM working towards an Associates degree in Cinematography and Film/Video Production. His passion is to transform ideas into passionate, engaging visual stories that resonate with audiences.
Ian Harrison is a 3D artist, animator, and programmer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Arts from UNM. With 14 years of experience in Blender 3D and 6 years in programming, Ian’s work blends fantasy and realism, reflecting his passion for space, video games, art, and science. This past year, Ian worked as the lead animator and editor for several live musical performance visual productions before joining Syncronos Design Inc. as the IT specialist. At Syncronos, he contributes to a full-length animated film about the world around us. That year, Ian also led enemy development for the game Botnyst and showcased an interactive projection piece in “Edge Conditions. Ian joined STEMarts Lab after graduating from UNM in 2023 and started as a STEMarts Ambassador. He is now part of the core creative production team and leads the remote STEAM TEAM Digital Media XR youth training program.
Arwen Hubbard is a passionate space science educator and ecologist, holding undergraduate degrees in Resource Management and Agricultural Ecology, as well as a Master of Science in Space Studies with a focus on Planetary Science. Currently pursuing her doctorate in STEM education, Arwen’s mission is to ignite curiosity about the Universe. Based in the Northern New Mexico, Arwen teaches space science online to learners of all ages. She’s also a NASA Solar System Ambassador, an author, a science scriptwriter for educational channels, and an avid podcaster, with a focus on translating complex topics into language for learners of all ages.
Cyndi Coon is a futurist, creative strategist, and AI ethics educator dedicated to empowering the next generation of innovators. She is the founder of Applied Futures Lab and serves as a thought leader in emerging technologies, creative problem-solving, and strategic foresight. With a background in storytelling, generative AI, and immersive media, Cyndi works at the intersection of technology, culture, and education, designing programs that inspire curiosity and innovation. Based in New Mexico, she collaborates with global organizations, government agencies, and educators to explore the future of AI, data science, and creative technology. She is a sought-after speaker, author, and mentor, passionate about helping young minds navigate the ethical and creative possibilities of AI-driven futures.
Estacia joined the STEMarts Lab team in 2018. She is a creative designer, placemaker and arts/science educator who has engaged artists and students in STEMarts projects with a special focus on the STEMarts Lab Design Challenge and graphic design. Estacia has a B.A. in InterArts Communication and Design from the College of Santa Fe and a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico. Estacia was raised in Taos and currently lives in Louisiana.
Dania Loya is a multi-media artist from Taos involved in works with interactive wearable art and projection mapping installations focusing on natural technology
and Sacred Geometry. Dania has been part of the STEMarts
school programs in Taos, NM since 2012 as a student, ambassador, coordinator, and production director. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in Instructional Technology and Training. She is currently in the design field as a lead graphic designer in the corporate world.
and Sacred Geometry. Dania has been part of the STEMarts
school programs in Taos, NM since 2012 as a student, ambassador, coordinator, and production director. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in Instructional Technology and Training. She is currently in the design field as a lead graphic designer in the corporate world.
Creative Production Team
This interdisciplinary team of artists, technologists, and scientists brings STEMarts Lab experiences to life. Together, they develop and produce SciArt installations that travel the world—blending advanced digital tools like AI, AR, and projection mapping with powerful stories rooted in science and culture. Their work transforms how we understand the universe and invites the public to imagine what the future can be.
Bethany Rivera joined STEMarts Lab through a Department of Workforce Development Pre-Apprenticeship program right after graduating with an Associate Degree in Computer Programming and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning from Central New Mexico Community College. She has now joined our core creative production team. She has a strong background in computer science. As a member of CNM’s robotics team, she competed and won in a Raspberry Pi robotics competition in Cambridge, England. Passionate about computing, Bethany is dedicated to exploring how computers function and applying her expertise to inspire and educate the next generation of innovators. She is the developer of the Language Learning Model (LLM) created for the Space Messengers AI installation.
Rémy Dumas is a french creative technologist and interactive developer. Graduated from Gobelins - l’École de l’Image, he specializes in transforming data and complex ideas into immersive visual experiences that blur the lines between art, technology, and storytelling.
With a passion for exploring the expressive power of code, Rémy crafts tools and interactive installations that invite audiences to challenge their perspectives and connect emotionally with information.
Since 2021, he has collaborated with journalists, artists, and institutions to develop innovative digital narratives, using his technical skills to open up new forms of creative expression and engagement.
Driven by a passion for experimentation and a desire to spark change, Rémy’s work centers on using technology as a medium to foster reflection and dialogue around knowledge, human experience and contemporary issues.
Currently, he continues to expand his multidisciplinary practice, combining creative coding, data visualization and new media art to push the boundaries of how stories can be told and experienced.
With a passion for exploring the expressive power of code, Rémy crafts tools and interactive installations that invite audiences to challenge their perspectives and connect emotionally with information.
Since 2021, he has collaborated with journalists, artists, and institutions to develop innovative digital narratives, using his technical skills to open up new forms of creative expression and engagement.
Driven by a passion for experimentation and a desire to spark change, Rémy’s work centers on using technology as a medium to foster reflection and dialogue around knowledge, human experience and contemporary issues.
Currently, he continues to expand his multidisciplinary practice, combining creative coding, data visualization and new media art to push the boundaries of how stories can be told and experienced.
Malu Tavares is a Content Strategist and Video Producer with over 15 years of experience crafting impactful narratives at the intersection of science, art, and technology. With a background in Social Communication and a master’s degree in Communication and Semiotics, she combines strategic thinking with a strong editorial and visual sensibility to create content that resonates across platforms and audiences. She began her collaboration with STEMarts Lab in 2014 and In 2020, she joined the Space Messengers team, where she produced over 100 educational video clips in collaboration with scientists from NASA, CERN, and Los Alamos. These videos form the core of the installation’s interactive experience, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a culturally and generationally diverse audience. She also developed the narrative structure of the installation, ensuring consistency between scientific content, visual language, and user interaction. She also scripted, directed, filmed, and edited five short documentaries chronicling the project’s international journey. In parallel, she photographs key moments of the installation and public engagement to support documentation, communication, and archival use. Her work is grounded in clarity, precision, and a deep commitment to making knowledge accessible through compelling and meaningful storytelling.
Ian Harrison is a 3D artist, animator, and programmer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Digital Arts from UNM. With 14 years of experience in Blender 3D and 6 years in programming, Ian’s work blends fantasy and realism, reflecting his passion for space, video games, art, and science. This past year, Ian worked as the lead animator and editor for several live musical performance visual productions before joining Syncronos Design Inc. as the IT specialist. At Syncronos, he contributes to a full-length animated film about the world around us. That year, Ian also led enemy development for the game Botnyst and showcased an interactive projection piece in “Edge Conditions. Ian started as a STEMarts Ambassador and is now contracted to lead the digital media arts workshops and contributes creatively to the STEMarts installations.
David Novack worked with students from Lusofona University to create the soundscape for Space Messengers. After undergraduate degrees in both engineering (Univ. of Pennsylvania) and music (Berklee College of Music), David Novack has enjoyed a successful award-winning career as a sound designer/mixing engineer for dozens of feature films. In live theater, he has designed sound for an internationally-toured opera by Roger Waters (Ça Ira), and sound/projections for Toronto’s Meridian Arts Centre’s (Death of a Salesman in Yiddish). Mr. Novack is now a professor of sound and cinema at Lusófona University for Humanities and Technology in Lisbon, Portugal, where he is also a researcher in sound studies. In addition, Mr. Novack is a filmmaker himself, with award-winning documentary films including Finding Babel (Special Jury Prize, Moscow Jewish Film Festival), and Burning The Future: Coal in America, (IDA Pare Lorentz Award).
Roy Macdonald is a Chilean artist and creative coder who works with technology in the Arts field, striving to make an intelligent and engaging use of it. Code and computers are his primary tools. His artistic and creative curiosity alongside with his inborn aptitudes for math and sciences, allows him to act as leader and/or bridge in multidisciplinary teams and endeavors.
Mathieu Castel is the lead VR Designer of the project, creating the 3D model of the building sites and building the VR world that becomes part of the VR platform. He is a DJ and visual artist. Always on the lookout for new ways to generate engagement and interactivity with the crowd on the dancefloor, Mat has been able to push the boundaries of nightclubbing by using technology like visual intensive on-demand song requests, interactivity with the projected visuals by the mean of connected props and music interaction for collaborative and spontaneous sets. After the Covid outbreak, Mat started producing a unique online show placing artists in virtual reality or realistic mixed reality environments.
Board of Directors
STEMarts Lab’s Board of Directors brings together expertise in scientific research, international relations, nonprofit development, and strategic planning. This dynamic team provides vital guidance to help shape our long-term vision and growth. Their leadership supports our mission to connect youth with real-world opportunities and global networks, ensuring that our programs remain impactful, inclusive, and aligned with a rapidly evolving world.
Juniper Manley joins STEMarts Lab as a non-profit management professional with 26 years of experience in arts and environmental organizations. Focusing on fundraising and executive management, she has helped organizations raise millions of dollars and implemented large-scale, mission driven programs that take these institutions to a new level. Growing up in Peñasco and attending Taos High School, Juniper holds a Masters in Arts Management from the Carnegie Mellon Heinz School of Public Policy and Management, and a BA in Anthropology from Reed College. She serves on the Board of the New Mexico Humanities Council and the MAE Private Foundation.
Erin leads the collaboration development for Native energy projects with Seneca Solar. She previously worked on sustainable economic development and renewable energy in New Mexico for twenty years, including five years as the Business and Organization Development Manager at Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC). She co-founded Collaborative Green, a sustainability consulting firm focused on sustainable development strategies and regenerative business practices. Erin has also held positions at Intel, the Taos Community Foundation, the Taos Green Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations. She has a BA in International Conflict Resolution and Organization Development and is working on a Masters in Transdisciplinary Practice.
Nicole is an astrophysicist at Los Alamos National Lab, where she studies the black holes created in the deaths of massive stars, and leads the outreach efforts on behalf of the Center for Theoretical Astrophysics. She is also on the faculty of the University of New Mexico, Los Alamos where she teaches physics. She is a science advisor and guest instructor in STEMarts projects.
Steve is an experimental particle physicist working for the University of Melbourne on the ATLAS Experiment at CERN. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, coordinates University of Michigan undergraduate research programs at CERN, serves as an ATLAS Diversity & Inclusion Contact, and fronts the world renowned Canettes Blues Band. Steven has been an advisor for STEMarts Lab since 2013 and a key collaborator for the Projecting Particles project.
Shaylee Mirabal joined the STEMarts Lab team in 2023 as an Ambassador and worked her way to Director’s Assistant Apprentice, funded through the Taos Pueblo Education and Training Division Apprenticeship program. She is now part of the STEMarts team as the Directors Assistant while she attends the University of New Mexico studying nursing. In addition she leads workshops and runs STEMarts events as production manager.
Pilar Lenora Robledo (she/ella/она) was a Foreign Service Education Officer who served with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she led global initiatives in education to empower youth and expand equitable learning. Pilar has over two decades of experience designing and managing education, human rights, refugee protection and workforce development programs across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. She served as Director of Programming and Training with the Peace Corps in Ukraine and Mozambique, Education Cluster Coordinator in Ukraine, and held leadership roles with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Save the Children, and the International Rescue Committee in Pakistan. In Central Asia, she was the Regional Director for the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX). She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kyrgyz Republic. Now based in Questa, New Mexico, Pilar is deeply committed to community-rooted learning.
Advisory Committee
The STEMarts Advisory Committee is composed of experts in science, education, arts, and global culture who help guide the direction of our programming. Their insights ensure that our projects remain aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and rooted in ethical, human-centered approaches to emerging technologies. By bridging disciplines and perspectives, the committee strengthens our commitment to building artistic, scientific, and humanistic literacy among youth, and prepares them to thrive as global citizens in a rapidly changing world.
Dr. Andrea Albert is devoted to scientific outreach and is excited to be a part of the STEMarts team! She is an astrophysicist at Los Alamos National Lab and specializes in searching for gamma rays from dark matter interactions in space. She received her PhD from The Ohio State University in 2013. Dr. Albert is committed to sharing her love of astrophysics with everyone and has spoken with all kinds from kindergarten classrooms to US Congressional offices. In her spare time Andrea enjoys Zumba, playing video games with her husband Dylan, and snuggling with her two cats Ben and Marty.
Dr. Julia Blue Bird is curious about a lot of things. She has earned three master’s degrees, one in electrical engineering from the University of Southern Florida and two from Columbia University in philosophy and astronomy and in astrophysics. But these days her curiosity is focused on galaxy evolution over cosmic time as she completes her PhD in astrophysics at Columbia.
With her engineering background, Blue Bird is well equipped to explore the specialized field of radio astronomy. Her dissertation is on the relationship of the spin of galaxies to the underlying structure of the universe. “In my current role as a research scientist, I use powerful telescopes to study how galaxies evolve,” says Blue Bird, Oglala Lakota. “This is done in radio frequency band, whereas the Hubble Space Telescope is in optical band.”
The newly upgraded Very Large Array Radio Telescope she relies on is located outside Socorro, N.M. “It has amazing capabilities,” says Blue Bird, who also notes that other telescopes are being built in places such as Chile, South Africa, and Australia.
Her research is tied to a much larger survey of the universe called CHILES (the COSMOS HI Large Extragalactic Survey). “We use our data to give us an understanding of the extended outer parts of hundreds of galaxies,” explains Blue Bird. “We don’t know that much about how galaxies evolve. With these powerful telescopes we are able to study galaxies back 5 billion years, which has never been done before.”
Blue Bird believes her desire to know more about the universe is a link to her Native roots. Born on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, she returns annually to participate in ceremonies and strengthen her connection to her family and her heritage.
With her engineering background, Blue Bird is well equipped to explore the specialized field of radio astronomy. Her dissertation is on the relationship of the spin of galaxies to the underlying structure of the universe. “In my current role as a research scientist, I use powerful telescopes to study how galaxies evolve,” says Blue Bird, Oglala Lakota. “This is done in radio frequency band, whereas the Hubble Space Telescope is in optical band.”
The newly upgraded Very Large Array Radio Telescope she relies on is located outside Socorro, N.M. “It has amazing capabilities,” says Blue Bird, who also notes that other telescopes are being built in places such as Chile, South Africa, and Australia.
Her research is tied to a much larger survey of the universe called CHILES (the COSMOS HI Large Extragalactic Survey). “We use our data to give us an understanding of the extended outer parts of hundreds of galaxies,” explains Blue Bird. “We don’t know that much about how galaxies evolve. With these powerful telescopes we are able to study galaxies back 5 billion years, which has never been done before.”
Blue Bird believes her desire to know more about the universe is a link to her Native roots. Born on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, she returns annually to participate in ceremonies and strengthen her connection to her family and her heritage.
Greg is an educator dedicated to honoring the foundations of indigenous knowledge in education. Dr. Cajete is a Tewa Indian from Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico. He has served as a New Mexico Humanities scholar in ethno botany of Northern New Mexico and as a member of the New Mexico Arts Commission. Dr. Cajete has authored five books including “Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence”. Greg is a speaker and shares his expertise about native science in our INTERview series.
Steve draws upon his family history as a member of the Sicangu Lakota tribe. His fine arts education (BFA from Singe Gleska University), along with his cultural upbringing, have shaped him as an artist, historian, storyteller and dancer. Steve provides activities during his residencies that include art and regalia making, drumming, powwow dance demonstrations and lectures on the history, symbolism, and meaning behind the Native customs and traditions. Steve leads our youth workshops as a Lakota Cultural specialist.
Dr. Nayana Guerrero is a social scientist, educator, and advocate for women's empowerment and sustainable leadership. Holding a Ph.D. in Administrative Sciences from UNAM and having pursued additional studies at Sciences Po Paris and American University, she currently serves as the Associate Director at Tecnológico de Monterrey. A trilingual expert in gender research, she has spoken at over 80 global events and led workshops that have empowered more than 5,000 participants. Her work delves into the intersection of AI, gender, and business, inspiring inclusive leadership and ethical innovation. Dr. Guerrero is committed to advancing gender equality and transforming social and business dynamics on a global scale.
Dr. Catarina Pombo Nabais is a Scientific Researcher at the Dept. of History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Science and the founder of the SAP(Science- Art-Philosophy) Lab at the CFCUL. She was the Art&Science Curator for the International Science Festival in Oeiras, Portugal that hosted Space Messengers in 2021 and 2022. Catarina is part of the creative team as curriculum advisor, Portugal liaison and guest instructor for the student workshops.
Johan is a first-generation college graduate raised by an immigrant Costa Rican family in their hometown of Hialeah, Florida. Johan started pursuing particle physics research during their undergraduate years at Stanford. They then earned their PhD at the University of Oregon for research with the ATLAS experiment, and they are now a postdoctoral scholar for University of California, Davis working with the CMS experiment at CERN. Johan is co-designer for the Fluidic Data installation at the CERN Data Center and serves as science advisor.
Shane Wood is a member of the QuarkNet national staff, and is a science/STEAM coach in the Mounds View Public Schools near Minneapolis, MN. With QuarkNet, he works with teachers and scientists around the country and around the world to provide opportunities for students to learn about science and the world around them through the analysis of real data, including particle physics data. In his role at Mounds View, Shane works with teachers and administrators to align science and STEAM curricula district-wide. Shane also has over 15 years of classroom experience as a teacher of physics and physical sciences at the high school level and leads the STEMarts physics activities.
