APS-IDEA Steering Committee

The APS-IDEA steering committee is currently composed of 6 members who serve as the “leadership” arm of the alliance, making structural and organizational decisions for the project.

Vemitra Alexander

Dr. Vemitra Alexander, a native of Crawford, Mississippi, graduated with her Ph.D. in 2016 from Mississippi State University in Instructional Systems and Workforce Development. She is currently a Program Specialist for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama where she serve as the Space Grant Specialist and Activity Manager for the Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC). Previously, she was an Education Specialist for NASA OSTEM Educator Professional Development Program (EPDC) where she was responsible for: delivering STEM engagement activities; providing professional development for K-20 educators, administrators, and students; and providing support towards NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) to broaden Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) participation in NASA’s STEM initiatives. Prior to joining the team at NASA, she was the Director of Educational Outreach and Support Programs in the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University where she was heavily involved with recruiting under-represented minorities (URMs) students in STEM, she developed and managed K-12 STEM programs, community outreach activities, and established collaborations with university and industry partners. Her research interest includes STEM engagement, URM students’ persistence and retention in STEM, as well as STEM education and outreach. Joined in Winter 2023.

Kayla Baker IDEA

Kayla Baker (she/her) is the Diversity Program manager at the American Physical Society where she helps to manage the activities and organization of APS-IDEA. Dr. Baker is a proud alumna of the largest public HBCU in the nation, North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has her Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations, with her research focusing on campus climate, racial relations, the social construction of race, Black student experiences at historically white institutions, ethnic enclaves, and race-based digital campus spaces on social media platforms. Dr. Baker enjoys traveling, teaching dance classes, and serving the community as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Joined in Summer 2022

Sidney Brandhorst

Sidney Brandhorst (she/her) is on the instructional team for Learning Enterprise at Arizona State University, which caters to non-traditional learners. Sidney’s background is in environmental science and sustainability and she is interested in understanding how socio-ecological systems can thrive under growing pressure. She also spends time working on various program evaluation projects and community engaged research. Outside of professional endeavors, Sidney enjoys exploring the state of Arizona in a tent, reading, and being a mom. Joined in Winter 2023.

Erika Brown IDEA

Erika Brown (she/her) is the Diversity Program Lead at the American Physical Society. In her time at APS, Dr. Brown has led a portfolio of diversity-focused programs, including the APS IDEA, the APS Bridge Program, the National Mentoring Community, and the Inclusive Graduate Education Network. She currently serves as the Director of the APS Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP), and Senior Staff Liaison to the APS Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP). Dr. Brown is a proud alumna of the all-women's HBCU, Spelman College, and received her PhD in Psychology from Brown University. She loves to garden and cook delicious food for her friends and family. Joined in Fall 2019

Dessie Clark IDEA

Dessie Clark (she/her) is the Associate Director for Program Assessment and Research Collaboration of University of Massachusetts, Amherst’s ADVANCE Program. She conducts evaluation research for programs and organizations dedicated to gender equity issues. She is an animal lover and currently has two dogs, one cat, and a rescue horse. Joined in Summer 2022

Marvin Jones, Jr.

Marvin Jones, Jr. (he/him) is a Ph.D. candidate in Astrophysics at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB). His research focuses on analyzing cosmic ray neutron data for rare, exotic signatures using methods including wavelet analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, and other statistical techniques. He received a dual B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Professional Mathematics as well as an M.S. in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina A&T State University and is a proud of alumnus of this HBCU. He is actively engaged in STEM-equity work through the Diversity Committee and the APS-IDEA team in the IUB Physics Department. He has had an interest in mathematics and space since 4th grade and has pursued that journey since. One of the unique things he learned on his journey was that Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughn once lived in his old neighborhood, which inspires him to continue sharing the stories of marginalized voices in STEM in an effort to decolonize how the story of science is told as well as create spaces for everyone to enjoy and learn science. Outside of his professional endeavors, he is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. where he frequently engages in service, advocacy, and community building. He enjoys cooking, reading, and making iTunes playlists. Joined in Spring 2023

Tiffany Lewis IDEA

Dr. Tiffany Lewis (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at Michigan Technological University. Her research group works on the development of theoretical models for blazar jets with a focus on particle acceleration and high-energy processes, and collaborates with gamma-ray missions and facilities. Dr. Lewis has been involved in broad community outreach for astronomy as an observatory coordinator and AAS Astronomy Ambassador, as well as national advocacy. She focuses engagement activities on community building and effective science communication. Her bibliography includes both astrophysical and community centered works. Joined in Summer 2022.

Jasper Scelsi IDEA

Jasper Scelsi (he/him) is a Physics PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His research includes studying the inflows and outflows of gas in the circumgalactic medium of the dwarf galaxy Sextans A. He does a lot of grassroots advocacy to fight for the rights of marginalized communities. He values representation and wants to be an example for other LGBTQ physicists and astronomers, as he hasn't known many others on his education journey. When he is not busy teaching and studying to prepare himself for his eventual goal of being a professor, he likes to play video games and tabletop games such as Dungeons and Dragons. Joined in Summer 2022.

This project is sponsored by the APS Innovation Fund, AIP Diversity Action Fund, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and private donations.

More Information

About APS-IDEA

Get an overview of APS-IDEA, including the program's guiding principles, teams, and contact info.

Learn about APS-IDEA

APS-IDEA Logic Model

APS-IDEA lays out the connections between project inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes.

View the logic model