Staff And Board Members

Michelle Afflu is a Communications Associate at the NSTMF and has been with the Foundation since Fall 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University where she majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Communications. With her previous experience rooted in social media and content creation, Michelle’s responsibilities include supporting all communications efforts for the Foundation’s many programs. At the NSTMF she uses her skills to extend the reach of resources the Foundation provides to aid our mission of building a STEM community that reflects American society’s diversity.

Joanna Chou is a Program Associate at the NSTMF. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from The George Washington University and has been working with the NSTMF since 2019. Her experience with non-profit fundraising coupled with her training as a STEM teaching assistant has inspired her passion for equity and excellence in STEM. Joanna now leads the Unscripted program, which services the Foundation’s mission to build more diverse, equitable, and inclusive STEM communities.

Kate Biddle is the Senior Development Associate at the NSTMF. Kate has over three years of experience in non-profit fundraising and development, with a particular emphasis on individual fundraising and major gift cultivation. At the NSTMF, Kate is responsible for identifying donor prospects, stewarding current donors, drafting grant proposals, and managing corporate sponsorship. She also manages the Foundation’s Expert Connect Program, a network of NSTMF past and future program participants and other key advocates of inclusive STEM communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Washington University in St. Louis. Kate’s passion for fundraising comes from her enthusiasm for building deep, meaningful relationships. She is thrilled to be advocating for a cause as crucial as breaking down the systemic barriers to success in STEM.

Mayowa Awe is the director of the NSTMF’s inSTEM program. Before joining the Foundation, she was a Senior Data Analyst at Lockheed Martin Corporation. She received an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in May 2015, followed by a Ph.D. in Mathematics from UTA in May 2019. Mayowa’s responsibilities at the NSTMF include auditing data tracking metrics for the newly launched inSTEM program and making recommendations for maximizing our impact. Outside of her work at the NSTMF, Mayowa enjoys teaching, public speaking, and mentoring. She is a Center for the Integration of Teaching and Learning Associate and tutors students of all grade levels in mathematics. Through speaking engagements, Mayowa seeks to encourage the next generation of STEM scholars and expose people to the versatility of mathematics.

Allison Courtin is the Senior Director of Strategy and Communications at the NSTMF where she has led the Foundation’s efforts to redevelop its mission and vision. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a master’s in Communications from John Hopkins University. Through her work at the NSTMF, Allison translates her passion for equity and inclusion into impact for marginalized students in STEM. She specializes in brand and partnership development and uses these skills to promote the NSTMF’s work and build relationships with key partner organizations. Prior to joining the NSTMF, Allison served as communications manager at the Brookings Institution.

LC Charity is the Chief of Staff at the NSTMF. Over the past five years, they have led the development of the Foundation’s Unscripted Series and inSTEM programs. They are fiercely committed to increasing access for underrepresented communities, facilitating learning across lines of difference, and creating sustainable and impactful programming. This commitment manifests in both LC’s work with NSTMF programs as well as our internal operations. They strive to create programming that honors the needs of the communities we serve and fosters authentic participation from all. LC earned their bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in 2014.

As President of the NSTMF, Andy is responsible for oversight of the organization, management of staff, and ensuring that the Foundation’s mission is evident in all of its work. He has a deep personal connection to the Foundation and its broader direction. Andy is committed to building a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive future for STEM. He recognizes his own privilege and his responsibility as an ally to empower, enable, and serve his team, its mission, and the communities that can be positively affected by the Foundation’s efforts. Andy holds a BA from Trinity College-Hartford (’09).