|
 |
About Us
Staff
 |
Thea Evenstad, Program Assistant
Thea grew up in Alaska, but moved to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon. Enjoying the outdoors and supporting environmental education and youth programs are her long-time interests. She has volunteered since 2006 as a nature guide for Nearby Nature, so she feels right at home in beautiful Alton Baker Park. As a member of the local chapter of the North American Butterfly Association, Thea participates in butterfly counts that monitor butterfly populations in Lane County. Thea earned her undergraduate degree in geography and English, and she begins her master's program in library science fall semester. At the Science Factory, Thea assists with visitor services and administration.
|
 |
Jen Hernandez, Educator & Birthday Party Coordinator
Jen Hernandez is a native Californian, having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Jen attended the University of California Santa Cruz and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History of Art and Visual Culture. Now at the University of Oregon, she is working on a Master's degree in Arts Administration and Museum Studies. In the summer of 2010, Jen completed an internship with the Exploratorium in San Francisco, expanding her experience with museums to include science and inquiry-based discovery. Here in Eugene, she is also an intern at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art onthe UO campus, working with the education department to lead tours and museum art programs. Now one of the Science Factory's educators and the Birthday Party Coordinator, she's excited to bring her love of science, discovery and aesthetics with her to help create enriching experiences for all museum visitors.
sfbirthdays@sciencefactory.org
|
 |
Kevin Homer, Facility and Exhibits Technician
Kevin started volunteering at the Science Factory many years ago, in the era of the Dinosaurs (remember The Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals?). Last year he started volunteering again and it became clear that we needed him on board. Kevin supports the museum and staff by making sure the facility and exhibits are working properly, and assists in the development of new exhibits. Kevin has worked as an industrial sheet metal worker and has done plant contract work for large companies such as Campbell Soup, Pepsi Cola and Gallo to name a few, and he is no stranger to mechanical problem solving. Kevin grew up in Creswell, attended Lane Community College and graduated from University of Oregon with a BS in Business Administration.
|
 |
Heather Marr, Educator
Heather has extensive experience in many aspects of science education. She has taught at the preschool and elementary levels and served as the director of an elementary grade Quaker’s school. Heather developed curriculum and designed exhibits when she served as president of the Friends of Eaton Canyon Nature Center and worked as an assistant at the L.A. Zoo for two years. Most recently, she co-founded a nature-based, science summer program and was responsible for the science curriculum part of the camp. Heather received her bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of Hawaii.
|
 |
Kim Miller, Operations Director
Kim was born and raised in eastern Washington and spent time in New York and Tennessee before moving to Eugene to attend graduate school at the University of Oregon, where she earned her Master's degree in Environmental Studies. She has worked and volunteered with various environmental organizations in the Eugene area and was a docent at the UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History for several years. At the Science Factory, Kim manages operational details and assists with administration, visitor services, education, and other programs.
682-7896
kmiller@sciencefactory.org
|
 |
Sue Peterson, Planetarium Director
Sue brings to the Science Factory more than 20 years of planetarium experience. She moved here from the Mayborn Planetarium in Killeen, Texas, and prior to that was the director at the Casper Planetarium in Casper, Wyoming and at the Kansas City Museum Planetarium in Kansas City, Missouri. She has authored more than 80 published articles about astronomy.
682-7891
sue.peterson@sciencefactory.org
|
 |
Carolyn Rebbert, Executive Director
Dr. Rebbert received her B.S. and M.S. in geology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa membership. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. Her areas of expertise include experimental petrology and geochemistry. Dr. Rebbert has worked for the past 15 years as a geologist and museum professional at the American Museum of Natural History, the Bob Campbell Geology Museum at Clemson University, and at the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science. At the Bruce, she curated the natural history collection that is the best of its kind between New York City and New Haven. She also curated and project managed science and interdisciplinary exhibitions. Recent projects included developing exhibitions on alchemy and animal survival strategies. Dr. Rebbert is a past member of the U.S. National Committee for the International Year of the Planet Earth and a past Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History.
682-7887
crebbert@sciencefactory.org
|
 |
Emily Shelton, Marketing & Communications Director
Emily grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended college in the western mountains where she earned her Bachelor of Science in non profit Communications/Public Relations from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Emily worked for the Watauga County Arts Council assisting with artist services, fundraising, and planning special events. She enjoys all outdoor recreation that the Oregon wilderness has to offer, seeing her favorite bands, and traveling.
682-7886
sfmarketing@sciencefactory.org
|
 |
Nick Spicher, Education Director
Nick was born and raised in New Jersey. He graduated from Princeton University in 2001, where he majored in history, in addition to taking numerous physics and math courses. He put the latter to use in the New Orleans public schools, where he taught high school physics and algebra for two years through the Teach For America program. Nick began graduate school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in the fall of 2003, and spent summers and weekends at the Maryland Science Center, Baltimore's hands-on science museum, interacting with the public as a member of the education staff. He presented physics and chemistry demonstrations to audiences large and small, and designed hands-on activities in topics such as static electricity, topology, and vermiculture (worm composting). In September, 2010, he completed his doctoral dissertation on science and education in early America.
682-7892
sfeducation@sciencefactory.org
|
 |
Alison Zeller, Visitor Services Assistant
Alison is originally from Klamath Falls, Oregon, but moved to Monmouth to attend Western Oregon University. In December 2008, she graduated with a BS degree in Elementary Education with her Oregon teacher licensure. At this time, Alison is a substitute teacher with Springfield School District, and can also be found at the Science Factory front desk on the weekends, where she greets and assists guests to the museum.
|
 |
Renegade, Iguana-in-Residence
Renegade is a green iguana. His species is native to Central and South America, but, proving that he is truly a renegade, this guy has made his home at the Science Factory for about seven years. He is roughly ten human years old and weighs about 7 pounds. Renegade enjoys leafy greens, being misted with water, and novels about the Old West. |
| |
Summer Camp and After School Teachers
In addition to regular staff, the Science Factory employs camp counselors and after school program providers from a variety of disciplines. Many of our teachers are Oregon certified for the appropriate grade level. Many also teach at more advanced institutions like the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Linfield College, and Lane Community College.
|
|
