STEAM | Cal Lutheran

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Igniting passion in
Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Art and Math

Cal Lutheran's STEAM program provides project-based, hands-on learning experiences to help young students get excited about these fields.

Saturday Programs

Rio School District

October 21, 2023

8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Rio del Valle Middle School

Find More Details Here

Fillmore Unified School District

November 18th, 2023

8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Rio Vista Elementary School

Find More Details Here

Fillmore

Conejo Valley Unified School District

February 24, 2024

8:30 am - 12:30 pm
CLU Campus

Young students

Boosting confidence and knowledge

STEAM | Cal Lutheran helps students become excited about and successful in STEAM fields by following their curiosity and putting their knowledge and ideas to the test through hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

Our goal is to help young people from low-income and/or traditionally underrepresented populations in STEAM discover how these subjects are relevant to their own lives and interests, and to see themselves as capable of pursuing STEAM educational and career paths.

Our Faculty & Mentors

Our instructors and mentors include Cal Lutheran faculty and students, and community volunteers.

Megan Fung

LEAD FACULTY
Megan Fung
Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Michael Abdelsayed

Michael Abdelsayed
Assistant Professor of Biology

Jason Kingsbury

Jason Kingsbury
Associate Professor of Chemistry

Dana Harmon

Dana Harmon
Assistant Professor of Biology

Katherine Hoffmann

Katherine Hoffmann
Associate Professor of Chemistry

Michael Gagliardo

Michael Gagliardo
Professor of Mathematics

Past Events

In 2022, STEAM | Cal Lutheran hosted events at San Cayetano Elementary School and Rio Plaza Elementary School. Six CLU professor along with multiple student ambassador visited each school and hosted a variety of activites, spanning all STEAM subject, for students to learn and participate in. Students and their families were invited to learn and hear from the experiences of CLU professors and students.

Students from both elementary schools were later invited to the CLU Campus to tour and hear guest speaker, astronaut José Hernández, MS, share his journey from migrant farmworker to NASA astronaut.

Hernández spent much of his childhood on what he calls "the California circuit," traveling with his family from Mexico to Southern California each March, then working northward to the Stockton area by November, picking strawberries and cucumbers at farms along the route. After high school Hernández earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific in Stockton. He then continued his studies at UC Santa Barbara, where he was awarded a full graduate scholarship in electrical engineering. In 2004, NASA selected Hernández as a member of its 19th class of astronauts. He was chosen for a mission in 2007 and flew as the flight engineer on a 14-day mission in 2009 aboard the space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station.

Event Pictures

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STEAM Staff & Ambassadors

Maria Thayer, MBA

Director of Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiatives and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Programs

More About Maria Thayer, MBA

As an educator, I pride myself on being a social entrepreneur, mentor and social-justice advocate. My parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in the 1970s and settled in the beautiful city of Camarillo, California. Growing up as a daughter of immigrants, I watched my parents work difficult jobs as farmworkers and blue-collar employees. From a young age, my parents instilled in me the importance of family, education, faith, culture and community; these values continue to guide my work and leadership as an educator. Because of my background and experiences, I know that education has the power to change lives. Moreover, as an educator, I am able to empower students, employees and families in my community and worldwide. I hold a BA from CSU Northridge, an MBA from CSU Channel Islands, and I am currently working on a doctoral degree at Cal Lutheran University. I am married and have two beautiful daughters. In my spare time, I enjoy discovering new restaurants, spending time at the beach, gardening and practicing yoga.

Rafael Poveda

STEAM Ambassador

More About Rafael Poveda

Ricardo Zizumbo

STEAM Student Ambassador

More About Ricardo Zizumbo

As a second-generation Mexican American, my journey up until this point has been a rich blend of two distinct cultures. Raised in the United States, I've embraced the values of opportunity and individualism while cherishing the vibrant traditions, flavors, and rhythms of my Mexican heritage. Navigating the complexities of identity, I've found strength in the stories of my ancestors' resilience and cultural celebrations. This journey has given me a unique perspective, enabling me to embrace diversity, give back to my community, and pursue my dream of becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Jackie Prieto

Student Ambassador

More About Jackie Prieto

I am currently a freshman at Cal Lutheran University, majoring in Business and minoring in Sports Management. As a first-generation college student, I feel honored to be the first in my family to purse a higher education and make my parents proud. They have made many sacrifices to get me and my siblings where we are today. Making them proud is something that drives me to make my dreams and goals a reality. They have taught me to be a hard-working person and to keep pushing forward no matter what obstacles I face. I grew up watching my older and younger brothers play baseball and have always been surrounded by it. This sparked my interest in sports and since then, it has been my dream to pursue a career in the sports industry.

STEAM | Cal Lutheran is a partnership program with Hispanic-Serving Initiatives at California Lutheran University.

Funding for STEAM | Cal Lutheran has generously been made possible by the Amgen Foundation.