STEM Institute 2016 Keynote Speakers Biographies

Dr. Frederic Bertley directs both and educational programs for The Franklin Institute, , Pa, including overseeing The Franklin Institute’s partnership with its magnet high school’s Science Leadership Academy. Additionally, he directs the prestigious Franklin Awards Program, the long-running Journal of The Franklin Institute and the Institute’s international efforts including shepherding a USAID supported effort to build for 5 STEM platform high schools in Egypt. Prior to The Franklin Institute, he joined a Harvard Medical School HIV Vaccine Research Group, and managed multinational teams in and Sudan. Dr. Bertley has received numerous honors including the Harvard Medical School Dean’s Service Award, Merck Scholarship, The President’s Award (QBMA) and Philadelphia Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree and won a Mid-Atlantic Emmy™. Dr. Bertley has keynoted or been an invited speaker at numerous venues including the White House, the US Department of Interior and The United Nations. Dr. Bertley he holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Physiology and a Ph.D. in Immunology, both from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Dr. Leigh Ann DeLyser is the Director of and Research for the NYC Foundation for Computer (CSNYC). In her role, Dr. DeLyser is responsible for collaborating on CSNYC implementation and research efforts in CS4All - a 10 year, $80 million initiative to bring Computer Science to every student in NYC public schools. She was the original curriculum director for Girls Who Code. Dr. DeLyser is a co-author of the ACM Running on Empty report, which was used to lobby congress for the CS Education Act in 2010. Her research focuses on connecting life experiences to computing concepts, CS pedagogical content knowledge, inclusive pedagogy, and the effect of feedback regarding algorithmic components on novice programmers. She is a Pearson author of two CS textbooks, a certified College Board consultant for computer science, and has served on the board of directors for the Computer Science Teachers Association. Dr. DeLyser was a High School math and computer science teacher for 10 years in Florida and New York. She received her PhD from Carnegie Mellon University in Computer Science Education.

John Wadach is the Chair of the Engineering Science and Physics Department at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY. Mr. Wadach has received many awards, including the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and US Community College Professor of the Year (Carnegie Foundation). He has collaborated with MCC Applied Technologies to allow students to use milling machines and metal lathes to create a simple electronic powered car. Among other courses he designed and implemented was “Engineering Computing 1” to introduce students to software packages such as Matlab, Mathematica, and Labview, and negotiated with Rochester Institute of Technology’s chair of electrical engineering to accept this course for transfer credit. RIT has only recently adopted Matlab as their programming package. Mr. Wadach presented “Enhancing the Community College Pathway to Engineering Careers.” at the National Academy of Engineering Conference. He earned BA in Physics from SUNY Geneseo and his MS in Physics from the University of Maine.