Exhibitors

New Science Teacher Academy Presents
SCIENTIST TALK
Thursday, April 11 3:30–4:30 PM Marriott Rivercenter, Salon F
FORMAT: Special Session | SUBJECT: General Science | GRADE LEVEL: General
Building on Collaborative Efforts Between Government Agencies,
Corporate Entities, and Education in Order to Impact STEM Teaching and Learning
Please join us as representatives from the Astellas Pharma US, Bayer USA Foundation, The Dow Chemical Company, and Lockheed Martin
Corporation participate in a discussion focusing on ways science educators can effectively collaborate and build relationships with government
agencies and corporate entities to impact STEM teaching and learning.
Dr. David Evans, NSTA Executive Director, will serve as moderator for this panel. He will ask questions that will stimulate discussion and foster
thought regarding the role corporate scientists/engineers play in the teaching and learning of K–16 STEM content.
Rui Vogt Alves da Cruz, Ph.D.
Associate R&D Director at The Dow Chemical Company
Rui Cruz is currently an Associate R&D Director at the Dow Chemical Company, responsible for the Epoxy Process Research,
Civil Engineering, Amines and Chelants and Plastics Additives global R&D groups. He joined Dow in Brazil in 2001, having
worked in Human Resources, Customer Services, Technical Services and Research and Development for several different
products and technologies. In 2010 he moved to Freeport, Texas, serving as the group leader for Polyglycols and Surfactants
R&D until he transitioned to his current role in January 2011. Rui studied Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic School of
the University of São Paulo and the Karlsruhe University in Germany and also holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering by the
University of São Paulo.
Amy L. Gowder
Vice President & General Manager, Kelly Aviation Center, for Lockheed Martin Corporation
Amy L. Gowder is Vice President & General Manager, Kelly Aviation Center, for Lockheed Martin Corporation. In this capacity
she is responsible for leading the Corporation’s only jet engine shop, which provides military and commercial maintenance,
repair, and overhaul (MRO) services and test operations for engines that power the C-5, C-2, C-130, P-3, U-2, KC-10, KC-135R, RC-
135, DC-10, 747, 737, A300, and A320 family as well as MRO, test, and new engine production assembly for the F-16 and F-15. Amy
graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan Fellows Program with a Masters of Business Administration
and from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in bioengineering. She serves on San Antonio College’s
Challenger Learning Center Advisory Council and is a member of the Association of Manufacturing Excellence.
Jenny M. Kite
Associate Manager, Corporate Communications at Astellas Pharma US
Jenny M. Kite joined Astellas in April 2008. In her current position of Associate Manager in Corporate Communications she
is responsible for all external communications as well as the company’s corporate social responsibility programs. As part of
her work in corporate social responsibility, Jenny oversees the company’s Science WoRx program, a mentoring and online
resource for science teachers, and the company’s relationship with NSTA through the New Science Teacher Academy. Prior
to joining Astellas, she worked at Fleishman-Hillard in the healthcare practice. Jenny graduated from Iowa State University’s
Greenlee School.
Mark Land, Ph.D.
Unit Head Technology Development for Bayer Technology Services in the Americas Region
Mark Land received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry degrees from the University of
Texas of Arlington. Mark started work in 1999 as a Chemist in the Production Support Laboratory at Bayer’s Baytown, Texas,
production facility. In 2001 he moved into the production area managing various operational units. In 2008, he moved to
Shanghai, China, as a Start-up Manager where he led the operational team during engineering, construction, start-up, and
operation of the world’s largest and most technically advanced Toluene Diisocyanate production unit. Mark moved back to
Baytown, Texas, in 2012 and assumed his current role as Head of Technology Development for Bayer Technology Services.
Larry Sernyk, Ph.D.
Project Success Leader for Biotechnology (Cotton and Oilseeds) at Dow AgroScience
Dr. Larry Sernyk is currently the Project Success Leader for Biotechnology (Cotton and Oilseeds) at Dow AgroSciences in
Indianapolis, Indiana. He has dedicated most of his career to supporting education-related organizations. He currently serves
on the Board of Directors of the Science Education Foundation of Indiana and is the co-Leader of Dow AgroSciences R&D
Outreach Team of “Science Ambassadors.”