The SLIC Initiative Staff Bios
 

Shirley Malcom is Head of the AAAS Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) Programs.  A former high school science teacher, university faculty member, and National Science Foundation Program Officer in science education, Dr. Malcom holds a Ph.D. in ecology from Penn State University.  She serves on a number of boards and committees related to science policy and science education at local, state, national, and international levels.  She is a trustee of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and American Museum of National History.  Dr. Malcom was appointed by President Clinton and confirmed by the Senate as a member of the National Science Board and serves as a member of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology. 

She is author or co-author of numerous publications related to the mission of EHR including, Equity and Excellence: Compatible Goals; Science Assessment in the Service of Reform, and The Effect of the Changing Policy Climate on Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Diversity. 

As directorate head Dr. Malcom is responsible for ensuring programmatic development, adherence of EHR programs to support AAAS' mission, and garnering financial support for EHR projects, in addition to serving as spokesperson and advocate for EHR issues and principal investigator and intellectual contributor for EHR projects.
 

Yolanda S. George is Deputy Director and Program Director of the AAAS Education Programs (EHR) Programs.  Her responsibilities include conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and planning multi-year projects related to increasing the participation of minorities, women, and disabled persons in science and engineering.  She directs or co-directs a number of projects including Science Linkages in the Community (SLIC), the AAAS Black Church Project, and Science Education Reform for All (a joint science policy project the Council of Chief State School Officers).  These initiatives are all aimed at developing and strengthening out-of-school programs for school-age children operated by community-based groups including youth serving organizations, churches, science museums, zoos, libraries, and others. 

She has served as Director of Development for the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and Director of a pre-college, university retention, and pre-graduate school program at the University of California, Berkeley. As a laboratory biologist, Ms. George worked with a biophysics group involved in cell cycle using the flow cytometer and the cell sorter. 

Ms. George has authored or co-authored over 40 papers, pamphlets, and hands-on science manuals including Get into the Equation: Math and Science, Parents and Children; the In Touch with Science series (a series of 6 inquiry-based manuals for use with youth-serving organizations); and Science and Mathematics Reform: What Do Parents Need to Know to Get Involved?  She has several service awards from Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and the University of California at Berkeley. She also has received local appreciation awards from the New Orleans Mayor's Office and the Greater New Orleans Urban League.  She received her B.S. and M.S. in biology from Xavier University of Louisiana and Clark University in Georgia, respectively. 
 

Gaynelle Bowden is a science education specialist and trainer in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Directorate for Education & Human Resources (EHR) Programs.  Formerly, she worked as a Program Associate with the Family Math, Family Science, and Playtime is Science sites, located in the Programs for Educational Opportunity Office at the University of Michigan.  Ms. Bowden holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Master of Arts in Higher Education from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

As a trainer, Ms. Bowden is responsible for conducting hands-on science, mathematics and technology workshops for various EHR programs including the Science Linkages in the Community (SLIC) Initiative, the AAAS Black Church Project, and the Intel Community Technology Center (CTC) Project.  Additionally, she is instrumental in organizing the Annual AAAS Public Science Day.  She is the co-author of several publications including TechLinks for CTCs: Science, Math, Health & Literacy Activities for Community Technology Centers; In Touch with Community Service Learning:  A Guide to Hands-on Science; and the Community Technology Center (CTC) Training Manual.
 

Judith Kass is the Project Director for Public Understanding of Science and Technology at the AAAS Education Programs Programs.  She has developed and directed many programs impacting all populations including minorities, girls, and students with disabilities.  She received her Master's degree in education from Howard University and a Bachelor's degree in education and history from Antioch University.

Recent projects include Parents Involved-Pigeons Everywhere (PIPE), a citizen-science project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in collaboration with AAAS and Community Television of Southern California (KCET) with funding from the National Science Foundation; directing parent outreach programs for the Educational Film Center in connection with SETQuest, an interactive career project; and Public Science Day, an annual event targeted at students in grades 3 through 12 to broaden their understanding of the role of the sciences and its impact on everyday life.  Ms. Kass has served on several advisory boards including WGBH Century of Discovery, Project ASTRO, and the National Science Foundation's National Science & Technology Week.  She has co-authored several publications.
 

Patricia Thompson serves as the Meetings Coordinator for the Science Linkages in the Community Initiative at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.   In addition to coordinating seminars, forums, and workshops, Ms. Thompson assists in marketing and promotional activities for the Initiative.  She also serves as the Program Assistant for the Science in the Summer program, which provides summer science programs to children in grades 2 through 6 in greater Philadelphia.  Ms. Thompson is a graduate of Springarn High School in Washington, DC and attended Prince George's Community College.
 

Maria Sosa is the Project Director for the Science + Literacy for Health Project and the Editor-in-Chief of Science Books & Films at the AAAS Education Programs Programs.  She has also served as the Project Director of the AAAS Science Library Institute and manages the EHR Publications staff.  Ms. Sosa received her Master's degree in education and the teaching of English from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Bachelor's degree in humanities from Shimer College. 

Before coming to AAAS, Ms. Sosa was an award-winning software and audio visual writer/producer, as well as a writer and editor of educational print materials.  At AAAS, Ms. Sosa works on projects related to libraries and literacy.  She has published numerous articles and reports in this area.  She serves on several advisory boards related to libraries and children's science books, and has provided technical assistance to a number of organizations regarding exemplary science materials, including Reading is Fundamental and the American Library Association.