Conference Opening and Acknowledgements

Connecticut Science Center President and CEO, Matt Fleury welcomed conference participants and introduced Ted Sergi.  Sergi, the first CEO of the Science Center and a former Commissioner of Education in Connecticut, entertained the morning audience with a few stories from the construction days of the Science Center.  Pictured: (l-r) Fleury, Sergi

In a more serious vein Sergi recognized the ongoing contributions to the success of the Science Center made by University of Hartford President, Walter Harrison and acknowledged Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools Christina Kishimoto, newly named Superintendent of East Hartford Public Schools, Nate Quesnel, Vice President of Programs at the Connecticut Science Center Hank Gruner, Executive Director of Innovation and Learning at Saint Francis Care, Nancy Krafcik-Rouseau, and ENHP Dean Ralph O. Mueller.

Ted Sergi - First CEO CT Science Center and former Commissioner of Education Ralph O. Mueller - Dean, ENHP Stephen Hegedus - Keynote and Director Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education		John Tapper - Assistant Professor and STEM Committee Content Expert Stephen Hegedus - Keynote and Director Kaput Center for Research and Innovation in STEM Education
Walter Harrison - University of Hartford President		Nate Quesnel - Superintendent East Hartford Public Schools Ralph O. Mueller - Dean, ENHP
Hank Gruner - Vice President of Programs at the Connecticut Science Center Kathleen Hayden and Valerie Gilleran - STEM Committee members from the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions		Stacy Chambers - Principal, McDonough Expeditionary Learning School Karen Case - Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Hartford Christina Kishimoto - Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools

Leading the STEM conference initiative were Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent of Hartford Public Schools, Ralph O. Mueller, Dean of the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions (ENHP), and Gregory Makoul, Senior Vice President, Innovation and Quality Integration and Chief Academic Officer at Saint Francis Care.

The STEM Conference Committee consisted of representatives from Hartford Public Schools, Saint Francis Care, East Hartford Public Schools, and the Connecticut Science Center. 

Those responsible for soliciting and selecting STEM content offerings were:

• Sandra Inga, Director of Science, Hartford Public Schools
• Melissa Gavarrino, Science Department Head, East Hartford Public Schools
• Joan Pedro, Associate Professor, ENHP, University of Hartford
• John Tapper, Assistant Professor, ENHP, University of Hartford

Committee members responsible for the organization/administration of the event included:

• Hank Gruner, Vice President of Programs, Connecticut Science Center
• Glendolyn Hall, Office of the Superintendent, Hartford Public Schools
• Marlene Hall, Collegiate Director of Communication and Recruitment, ENHP
• Kathleen Hayden, Executive Assistant to the Dean, ENHP
• Valerie Gilleran, Collegiate Budget Director, ENHP

• Brandi Lumpis, Office of the Superintendent, Hartford Public Schools
• Ralph Minaya, Office of the Superintendent, Hartford Public Schools
• Nancy Krafcik-Rouseau, Executive Director of Innovation and Learning, Saint Francis Care
• Ashley Negrini, Office of Innovation and Learning, Saint Francis Care

The committee would also like to recognize staff from the EASTCONN Regional Educatonal Services Center for the administrative services they provided.