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/