Author: Claire Gibson

As High School Education Director, Brianne leads SARSEF’s PRISM and GALS programs and does outreach in high schools across Arizona! Read more to learn about Brianne and why STEM education is important to her!

What brought you to SARSEF?

Before joining SARSEF, I worked in molecular biology labs and then spent 13 years teaching middle school and high school science. As a teacher, I helped students develop their own research questions and publicly showcase their projects. I saw how much students could do when they had the time and support to investigate something they cared about. SARSEF’s mission drew me in because I wanted to help make those opportunities available to more students and teachers across Arizona.

Who is a scientist or engineer you admire and why? 

After reading Braiding Sweetgrass, I was so inspired by how Robin Wall Kimmerer brought her training as a botanist together with Indigenous knowledge to ask different questions about our relationship with the world. Her work made me reflect on whose questions and knowledge are treated as valuable in science. I carry that with me into my work with students every day.

What is a piece of media that you have enjoyed recently?

I am reading Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman. It has made me think more carefully about how the ways we communicate shape what we pay attention to and what we accept as knowledge. As an educator thinking about technology and AI, I found it especially relevant.

Why is STEM education important to you?

STEM education is important to me because students should have the agency to ask their own questions and investigate issues that matter to them. Students from communities historically excluded from STEM often encounter science that studies their communities without showing them that they, too, can produce knowledge. I want students to know that their experiences, perspectives, and questions belong in science and that they can help shape what we discover next.

What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?

 When I was little, I wanted to be a dog. I hadn’t thought through the logistics.

Learn more about Brianne and meet the rest of the team at https://sarsef.org/about-us/our-staff-and-board/

What brought you to SARSEF?

I have been a rural Science and Math teacher for most of my 18 year teaching career, so I have crossed paths with SARSEF a bunch of times! My students have participated in the SARSEF Fair many times, and we started a solar go cart team one year. I was part of the the rural cohort program pilot in 22-23, and so when an opportunity to participate and be a part of the SARSEF team came up, I was excited to jump at it! I believe, as SARSEF does, that every student deserves an opportunity to experience learning STEM by doing STEM, and sometimes a little bit of help and support is necessary to make those opportunities accessible, so I know there is a comfortable alignment in the SARSEF mission and my own desire to support outreach.

Who is a scientist or engineer you admire and why? 

This is a funny one, and I learned some of this from my students, but Ernest Rutherford.  As a rural teacher, his life story was one my kids really connected with in Willcox.  He was raised in New Zealand, to a family who raised sheep.  I am sure in his perspective he was in the most “backwards” corner of the world, while new discoveries were happening all over the world, but especially in England.  He actually won a scholarship opportunity to go study at the Cavendish Laboratory, mentored by JJ Thomson (discovered the electron) (was the first person to get to, who didn’t do undergrad there) from what was basically an early science fair in New Zealand.   As his career progressed, he became a mentor and guide to other amazing scientists, and was open to women studying and pursuing advanced degrees (and mentored them) in Physics at a time that was not a common mindset.  He had a witty sense of humor, and ultimately connected with and mentored Niels Bohr after his inability to work under Thomson.  The tl;dr version of this story was that besides discovering the nucleus with a creative experiment, he was a successful mentor to other great minds, and welcoming to women in the laboratory as equals.

What is a piece of media that you have enjoyed recently?

 I spend a lot of time traveling to support rural schools, and I have found the “History That Doesn’t Suck” podcast by (Professor) Dr. Greg Jackson and I really enjoy it.  I have also started with audiobooks on these drives, and so I finally got to finish both “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn and “Invisible Women” by Caroline Criado Perez, both of which I would recommend.

Why is STEM education important to you?

STEM Education is important to me for a variety of reasons.  In the first place, it can lead to a wide variety of (well-paying) jobs, as well as lifting us up into a more modern future, discovering things like improved medical treatments, improved safety products, etc. The second reason it is important to me is as a means of ontology, science is one of the most powerful tools humans have ever created to try and solve and find what is real, a way to overcome superstition and fear and to better understand the world and universe we live in.  It teaches our kids that they can become the engineers who design solutions to the problems we now face through learning, passing on knowledge, taking creative approaches and trial and error.  

What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?

I have always known and said I wanted to be a scientist.  While at times I wish maybe I had stuck a little closer to that plan, being a STEM teacher has been an extremely rewarding career.

Learn more about Ty on Our Staff and Board page. You can contact Ty at ty@sarsef.org.

The Burton Family Foundation, a longtime partner of SARSEF programs, has launched the AZ Leadership Accelerator (AZLA), an 18-month program for Arizona nonprofit leaders. Julie Euber, CEO of SARSEF, has been selected to be part of the inaugural cohort of this professional development program.

“The Burton Family Foundation recognizes the importance of strong leadership in Arizona’s nonprofit sector. I’m grateful for their investment in me and SARSEF as a whole through the Arizona Leadership Academy, ” says Euber. “I’m excited to collaborate with my cohort members and to grow as a leader for the betterment of SARSEF.”

Learn more about AZLA and meet the rest of the cohort: https://www.burtonfamilyfoundation.org/post/azlalaunch

Image credit: Carrie Evans and the Burton Family Foundation.

Written by Claire Gibson

SARSEF is excited to announce a new collaboration with the Kaohsiung Education Bureau, building on a foundational partnership between Pima County and Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. The collaboration will bring students in Tucson and Kaohsiung City together under a shared interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Pima County and SARSEF’s partnership with Kaohsiung highlights a shared interest in science and technology research and development. Today’s students will become tomorrow’s leaders in these industries, requiring a strong educational foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Students with SARSEF get to see worldwide possibilities in STEM careers and innovation through this partnership, helping to inspire the next generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers.

The exchange of ideas and knowledge through collaboration across borders is what advances science every day. SARSEF is excited to see how students in Pima County learn and grow as peers in STEM with students in Kaohsiung City.

Read the full article from Pima County here.

As SARSEF’s What Do We Wonder contractor, Lindsey will be visiting classrooms across Southern Arizona to facilitate hands-on learning for students while also supporting teacher professional development in STEM education. Welcome to SARSEF, Lindsey!

What brought you to SARSEF?

I’m a former middle and high school science teacher, but more recently, my organizing with Nerd Nite Tucson brought me into SARSEF’s orbit. I started as a volunteer science fair judge and now get to work with SARSEF as a contractor on the What Do We Wonder? program, bringing inquiry-based science into classrooms while supporting teachers through in-class professional development.

Who is a scientist or engineer you admire and why?

Richard Feynman, for his belief that really understanding something means being able to explain it clearly and accessibly. But also, honestly, the scientists I get to meet through Nerd Nite Tucson and SARSEF right here in Tucson. They’re real, normal, curious people doing fascinating things, and I love helping make science feel that way.

What is a piece of media you’ve enjoyed recently?

The Feather Detective by Chris Sweeney. It introduced me to an incredible woman, the development of an entirely new field of study, and a fascinating lesson in playing the long game in science.

Why is STEM education important to you?

Because the skills young people practice through STEM will serve them forever, regardless of what they study or do professionally. Being curious, noticing what’s happening around you, asking good questions, experimenting, learning from what happens, and trying again. Those are life skills.

What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?

A chef! Cooking sits at this wonderful intersection of art, science, technique, experimentation, and human connection. All of that still deeply appeals to me, I just cook for friends and family.

Learn more about Lindsey on Our Staff and Board page. You can contact Lindsey at wonder@sarsef.org

SARSEF is excited to announce our new Development Coordinator, Lucianna Guzman. In this role, Lucianna will support SARSEF’s development initiatives, helping us expand our capacity to offer hands-on programming in science and engineering to students across Arizona. Welcome, Lucianna!

What brought you to SARSEF?

SARSEF is an organization I was fortunate enough to stumble upon while initiating my job search. For more than four years, I worked remotely with the Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York under the Charity Accountability Program, where I developed a deep appreciation and passion for the nonprofit community. However, working remotely meant I didn’t have the opportunity to build meaningful connections within the community or see firsthand the impact of the work I was contributing to, which is what I value most about mission-driven work. I knew I wanted to explore opportunities that would allow me to work directly with my local community, and the open position with SARSEF was the first opportunity I came across in my search – lucky me!

As I began researching the organization, my excitement only grew. I think education and mentorship are some of the most powerful tools you can equip another person with, and SARSEF’s dedication to providing both through STEM opportunities and engagement immediately resonated with me. As I explored the organization’s many programs and saw the big smiles on students’ faces, I knew that the work SARSEF was doing was exactly the kind of mission I wanted to be a part of.

Who is a scientist or engineer you admire and why?

Like much of the public, I followed the Artemis II mission when it launched earlier this year, and through it I learned about Christina Koch and her incredible life and career. As an engineer and NASA astronaut, Koch represents the kind of perseverance, intelligence, and courage that will inspire future generations to pursue careers in fields where women have been historically underrepresented. Her achievements demonstrate that women should not simply have a seat at the table, but that they can be the ones leading the charge for groundbreaking discoveries and making history. For young girls interested in STEM, seeing someone like Christina Koch succeed at the highest levels can make those possibilities feel like they are within reach. Her career is a powerful reminder that representation matters and that when young girls and women can see themselves reflected in those shaping the future, they are more likely to believe they can help shape it too.  

What is a piece of media (book, movie, podcast, etc.) that you have enjoyed recently?

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie Project Hail Mary, which was released earlier this year, and I recently rewatched it with my mom. It’s a devastatingly beautiful story about a scientist from Earth and an alien engineer from another world who are both trying to save their homes. Beyond being an incredible story, I think it’s a wonderful example of how essential science, curiosity, and exploration are to our survival and our understanding of the world around us. It captures the idea that knowledge is power, and that sometimes solving our biggest problems requires us to look beyond what we think we know. 

Why is STEM education important to you?

STEM education is important to me because it encourages key critical thinking skills and curiosity from a young age. The world is a vast and sometimes confusing place, and it can be difficult for children to understand where they fit into it or how they can make a difference. I believe that when young people are given the tools and confidence to ask questions, explore ideas, and recognize that they can be part of creating solutions, we empower them to see themselves as active participants in shaping the world around them. Without that encouragement, we risk missing out on the incredible ideas, discoveries, and perspectives that the next generation has to offer.

What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up?

Ever since I was a very young girl, I’ve always been in love with music. I would sit at the family computer and watch music videos for hours on end. For any concert clip, self-recorded video, awards performance, or talent competition show out there that featured a beautiful voice, you could bet I was tuning in. I was infatuated with all the ways people could use their voices to make you feel something, and I wanted to be like them. So that being said, growing up, if you had asked, I would’ve told you with 100% certainty that I’d be the next Adele.

Learn more about Lucianna and the SARSEF staff and board at https://sarsef.org/about-us/our-staff-and-board/

By Julie Euber, CEO, SARSEF

“The strategic plan is dead. Long live strategy.” – Stanford Social Innovation Review article by Dana O’Donovan & Noah Rimland Flower

Nonprofit strategic planning can be a divisive topic.

On one hand, strategic planning can be viewed as an important process to ensure an organization is achieving their mission and getting the results they want. It allows staff and board to move in the same direction and understand their role in the organization’s impact.

On the other hand, it can be seen as a box to check that leads to a dead-on-arrival document that collects dust on a digital shelf. As the winds of change batter our doors, who are we to think we can strategically plan for an unpredictable future?

SARSEF staff and board recently completed a strategic planning process that didn’t attempt to predict the future but instead resulted in a shared reference document for everyone in the organization. The SARSEF strategic plan is a framework intended to be used when making strategic decisions to ensure alignment with the desired change we want to see in Arizona communities. The desired change we want to see is that critical thinking and problem-solving become habits of mind for every student, not special activities for some.

The strategic document also serves as a resource to help external audiences understand our work, find alignment for more impactful partnerships, and support us with a deeper understanding of our desired change. I wanted to share our process and insights.

The entire framework reflects an iterative exchange of ideas from the SARSEF staff and board. Months after the process, I am happy to hear phrases and ideas from the framework echo throughout our conversations and planning documents.

This is what we wanted from the process – a framework synchronizing the heartbeat and hard work behind continually opening doors of opportunity in science education for students, especially those from backgrounds historically marginalized in professional science communities.

The Process

I initially brought the strategic design framework idea to SARSEF board and staff after reading an article by Nick Takamine in Nonprofit Quarterly about transforming strategic planning to better fit the needs of nonprofits seeking to build a more just and equitable world. Both groups agreed to the process, and I was able to take on the role of facilitator.

The process began by ensuring clarity around our vision, values and missions. We then determined what challenges are in the way of our desired change and our perspective on how to overcome them. Both board and staff had in-depth discussions around these topics, centering the following questions:

• What does our mission, guided by our vision and values, look like in action today and in the short-term?
• By choosing the mission, vision, and values we have chosen, what might we NOT prioritize?
• Broadly by category, who do we work with to ensure we accomplish our mission?
• Long-term, if/when our mission is achieved, what does that look like? What change has occurred?
• What gets in the way of achieving our mission?
• What do we need to do to overcome barriers to achieving our mission?

We then determined our response to those challenges from different organizational angles – board, leadership team, programs team, operations team, and philanthropy team. The result of this process was a draft of our strategic framework that was then reviewed, updated, and approved by both board and staff.

What’s Next?

In its first year of adoption, the strategic framework will not be put to rest. We’ve created a poster for our internal meeting space to ensure it’s taken into consideration during decision-making gatherings. We will be brainstorming questions we should ask ourselves to ensure we’re in line with our strategic plan. Then, we will build roadmaps at the board and staff level to name what we must hold strong on and how we can evolve to ensure we are all working towards our theory of change. Once the framework expires, we hope to revive it with additional community feedback.

Conclusion

This process afforded us the opportunity to reflect on what we know to be true, the value we bring to our community partners and program participants, and how we can continually improve. We invite you to explore the document for a better understanding of our work and for inspiration on how you might work with us to create Arizona’s future critical thinkers and problem solvers through science and engineering. If you have any questions about the process or how to adopt it in your organization, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

“The strategy outlined in this document will help us stay on track as we work towards our big goals, acting as a light through the darkness, reminding us change is possible, and that we are both fortunate and driven to be a part of it.” – SARSEF’s 2026-2029 Strategic Framework

You can read the SARSEF 2026- 2029 Strategic Plan here.

Contact Julie Euber, CEO, at julie@sarsef.org