Our Team
We are passionate about bringing STEM concepts to life!
Ronda Cole Harmon
Director - AFRL NM STEM Academy
Call Sign - "Andromeda"
25+ years in STEM Outreach
Master of Science for Teachers - New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Bachelor of Science - Math Education - University of Nebraska
Fun Fact: Ronda was hired for a summer job with the Air Force in 1994 when she was a high school math teacher. More than twenty-five years later, she’s still there – now that’s a long summer. 
Pua Gabaldon
Assistant Director - DoD STARBASE NM
Call Sign - "Mew"
Many years' experience in K-12 STEM and education
Master's in Biology, minor in Biochemistry
STEM Academy Member since 2024
Worked with our STEM Outreach Specialist Amanda Salazar in CO
Fun Fact: Her call sign, “Mew,” refers to a rare, playful, curious Pokemon named “Mew,” which also describes her. (She’s loved Pokemon since she was a kid.) She’s scuba certified, did a night dive with Manta Rays in Hawaii, rafted the Colorado River, and has been skydiving. She loves STEM and everything about it.
Deb Novak
STEM Outreach Specialist - AFRL NM STEM Academy
Call Sign - "Mz. Frizzle"
Masters from the Audubon Expedition Institute/Lesley College in Environmental Education
K-12 Licensure degree from College of Santa Fe, MST credits from NM Tech
STEM Educator for 35+ years, in museums, zoos, schools, and field research
STEM Academy member since 2023
Fun Fact: Spent 4 days experiencing “life on Mars” at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah. Her team fully suited up in astronaut gear to exit the habitat, and ran missions
in the Utah desert, collecting samples while wearing puffy gloves and driving Mars rovers (ATVs).
Amanda Salazar
STEM Outreach Specialist - AFRL NM STEM Academy
Call Sign - "Sparkles"
Bachelor's in Mathematics and Education from UNM
3.5 years teaching experience
STEM Academy member since 2021
Fun Fact: Amanda has loved math for as long as she can remember! From middle school through college, she attended or worked at math and science camps every summer.
Diana Lee
Data Analyst - AFRL NM STEM Academy
STEM Academy member since 2003
15+ years in STEM outreach
Bachelor of Arts - Theatre Arts - University of Oregon
Fun Fact: Diana participates in agility with her border collies. She uses skills developed in building dog agility training equipment out of PVC to help create items for our STEM displays.
Steve Burke
Technical Writer - AFRL NM STEM Academy
Call Sign - "Papa Cupcake"
STEM Academy member since 2003
15+ years in STEM outreach
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism / Advertising - New Mexico State University
Fun Fact: Steve has several superpowers. In addition to taking cool pictures and creating awesome newsletters, he can eat an entire cupcake in one bite . . . and tell stories just like this one. He also plays organ / piano, sings, and has directed choir for two churches in Albuquerque.
Andrew Fahrenback
DoD STARBASE NM Instructor
Call Sign - "Fahrenheit" (because it's similar to his last name)
BS degree in Physics from the University of Central Florida
3 years' experience at a math tutoring company, and 1 year as a research technologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Has model rocketry experience
STEM Academy member since 2024
Fun Fact: Was big into Boy Scouts growing up; Andrew is an Eagle Scout!
Brooke Gallegos
DoD STARBASE NM Instructor
Call Sign - "Bubbles"
Bachelor's degree in Family and Child Studies
Experience teaching 5th Grade at an English and Math-focused school
STEM Academy member since 2024
Fun Fact: Brooke has a charcuterie business!
Tina Hansen
Instructor - DoD STARBASE NM
Call Sign - "Spike"
STEM Academy member since 2017
Camp Coordinator - NM Museum of Natural History & Science
Product Engineer - 3M Company
Master of Science - Chemical Engineering - Cornell University
Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering - University of Wisconsin
Fun Fact: Tina’s call sign is “Spike” – the nickname for the Pentaceratops at the NM Museum of Natural History & Science. She tells everyone she is a unique NM fossil just like the Pentaceratops. Be like “Spike” and LOVE science. 
Jessica Law
Instructor - DoD STARBASE NM
Call Sign - "Tesla"
STEM Academy member since 2022
Nearly 10 years of teaching experience in NM, including 2 1/2 years as science teacher in Los Lunas
Bachelor of Science - Elementary Education and Teaching from UNM
Fun Fact: Jessica can recall random trivia and information from the 1940’s to 2000’s, especially
film dialogue. Here’s looking at you, kid; you had me at “hello.”
Emma Bremer
DoD STARBASE NM Assistant Instructor
Call Sign - "BMO" (pronounced "Beemo")
Took a variety of advanced/STEM classes in high school, including AP Psychology, AP Chemistry, and AP Calculus
Puts the "A" in STEAM, as she's into numerous arts and crafts, including sculpting, knitting, acrylics, fashion, and culinary arts
STEM Academy member since 2024
Fun Fact: Her call sign comes from the Adventure Time cartoon character BMO, a walking cross between a Macintosh computer and a Gameboy.
Isabella Eisenbach
DoD STARBASE NM Assistant Instructor
Call Sign - "Bee," after a nickname her Nonna gave her
Five years' experience at a photography gallery in Santa Fe, NM
STEM was her favorite subject as a kid
STEM Academy member since 2024
