Core Team

SolarSPELL Staff

Laura Hosman

Co-Founder and Director

Dr. Laura Hosman is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University, holding a joint appointment in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and in The Polytechnic School. Her action-oriented work focuses on the role for new technologies in developing countries, particularly in education. Presently, she brings her passion for experiential learning to the classroom and beyond, through real-world-focused, project-based courses that bring students and student-built technology to the field for implementation.

Bruce Baikie

Co-Founder and Tech Advisor

Bruce Baikie is Senior Sustainability Fellow and Adjunct Faculty at Arizona State University. He has worked for many years as an ICT engineer in developing regions on sustainable computing, wireless broadband networks, and capacity building through partnerships and local ICT entrepreneurs. He is leveraging his extensive experience in the energy and telecom industries, 3 years as Executive Director of Inveneo, and 17 years at Sun Microsystems as telecom industry expert, and background in engineering and implementing ICT4D projects. His areas of expertise include: wireless networking, eco-data centers, micro-computing, and solar powering ICT. Bruce has mentored ASU SolarSPELL student teams since 2016 and has traveled and supported the training and implementation trips.

Sara Jordan

Library Information Specialist Lead

Sara Jordan is an Arizona State University graduate who is pursuing a master's degree in library and information science from the University of Washington. With her creative background and experience working in public libraries and collection management, she cares for SolarSPELL's library collections and strives for equitable, open access to information and bringing new ways to share the SPELL with communities around the world.

Zeinab Serhan

Information Technology Advisor

Zeinab has been working in software engineering and development since 2015. She's passionate about ICT4D which motivated her to complete a Master's degree in Global Technology and Development at Arizona State University. At SolarSPELL, she cares about implementing innovative solutions to maintain the software system and improve the digital library's user experience.

Stephanie Petersen

Project Manager

Stephanie Petersen in a two-time Arizona State University alumnus with a Bachelor in Interdisciplinary Studies (focus in Communications and Sociology) and a Masters in Higher and Postsecondary Education. She comes from a background in marketing, advertising, and higher education - having worked at ASU for over 6 years. She has always been passionate about giving back to the community and supporting nonprofits, and has led various committees to make a positive impact in the community. Her experience coupled with her love of helping others brought her to the SolarSPELL team as a Project Manager, where she can contribute to making the world a better place through the power of education.

Coreen Walsh

Project Manager

Coreen Walsh joins the SolarSPELL team as a project manager with 9 years of diverse experience in nonprofits, experiential and environmental education, and international development. With her BA in International Studies and MA in Sustainable Communities, she believes interdisciplinary solutions are foundational to creating a more just, peaceful, and sustainable future for all. Travel has been essential to her personal and professional life, and she is passionate about using education to empower curious and empathetic leaders as part of a global community.

Courtney Finkbeiner

Student Engagement Coordinator

Courtney Finkbeiner is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Fiji ’17-’19). As a Youth Development Volunteer in the Peace Corps, she used SolarSPELL with her community and in her primary school. She combines her experiential education experience, passion for hands-on community work, and her knowledge of SolarSPELL field use as Student Engagement Coordinator to oversee the incredible student talent that goes into the creation and implementation of SolarSPELL around the world.

Katarina Thorlin

Library Specialist

Katarina Thorlin has a diverse information background with an emphasis on digital collections and cultural heritage. Her experience includes managing both library and museum digital collections. She cares for SolarSPELL's library collections with a passion for promoting information literacy and access as human rights. Currently she is pursuing a master's in library and information science at the University of Arizona and is a graduate of Arizona State University.

Jude Schroder

Senior Videographer

Jude Schroder is SolarSPELL’s senior videographer. They graduated from ASU with degrees in Political Science and Global Studies, and have been working with SolarSPELL since 2018. Jude is passionate about digital media and how it can be used to help share SolarSPELL’s stories.

Students

Present

  • Maddie Arnold, Undergrad – Social Media Communications Aide
  • Lee Chiffelle, Undergrad, Special Projects
  • Phuc H Tran, Undergrad, Videography
  • Matthew Jurenka, Undergrad, Software Development

Past

  • Vignesh Mahesh, Grad, Spring 2020 – Electrical Circuit Designer
  • Jude Schroder, Undergrad, Spring 2020 – Videographer
  • Sai Cheekatimalla, Grad, Spring 2019 – Metadata Aide
  • Vasishta Harekal, Grad, Spring 2019 – Web Developer
  • Tharun Kumar Viralam Sreedar, Grad, Summer 2019 – Metadata Specialist

Present

  • Karime Arreguin, Fall 2020
  • Marybeth Bonner, Fall 2020
  • Brittany Carter, Fall 2020
  • Kasey Cretors, Fall 2020
  • Mia Czarnecki, Fall 2020
  • Zane Encinas, Fall 2020
  • Kara Gardner, Fall 2020
  • Mary Haddad, Fall 2020
  • Camryn Lizik, Fall 2020
  • Jason Ormsby, Fall 2020
  • Devin Robbins, Fall 2020
  • Samantha Sokol, Fall 2020
  • Fuli Treupenny, Fall 2020
  • Wen Wendt, Fall 2020

Past

  • Gilgal Ansah, Grad, Summer 2020
  • Winny Gire, Undergrad, Summer 2020
  • Grace Umerani, Undergrad, Summer 2020
  • Shannon Quigley, Undergrad, Summer 2020
  • Camden Paillot, Undergrad, Summer 2020
  • Colin Marvin, Undergrad, Summer 2020
  • Tyler Miller, Undergrad, Summer 2020
  • Priya Borah, Undergrad, Spring 2020, Summer 2020
  • Claudia Fragoso, Undergrad, Spring 2020, Summer 2020
  • Ashley Tse, Undergrad, Spring 2020, Summer 2020
  • Karla Cosio, Undergrad, Spring 2020, Summer 2020
  • Camryn Lizik, Undergrad, Spring 2020, Summer 2020
  • Eryka Molino, Undergrad, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Summer 2020
  • Rujuta Takalkar, Undergrad, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Summer 2020
  • Nandini Sharma, Spring 2020
  • Jill Leaver, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Mpho Olatotse, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Courtney Raymond, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Kristin Garcia, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Sankshay Macha, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Gabbi Messer, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Alexandra Pippett, Undergrad, Summer 2019
  • Alma Varon, Undergrad, Summer 2019

  • Justyn Zeider, Undergrad, Summer 2019
  • Hailey Campbell, Undergrad, Summer 2019
  • Vanessa Villalobos, Undergrad, Summer 2019
  • Madisyn Goodballet, Undergrad, Summer 2019
  • Jude Schroder, Undergrad, Spring 2019
  • Bailey De La Torre, Undergrad, Spring 2019
  • Erika Karner, Undergrad, Spring 2019
  • Kelsey Brezenski, Undergrad, Spring 2020
  • Melissa Kim, Undergrad, Fall 2019 – Spring 2020

Present

  • Priya Borah, Fall 2020
  • Bradley Brickson, Fall 2020
  • Karla Cosio, Fall 2020
  • Claudia Fragoso, Fall 2020
  • Nandini Sharma, Fall 2020
  • Ashley Tse, Fall 2020

Past

  • Chirag Dewan, Spring 2020
  • Sarah Cichomski, Spring 2020
  • Talia Hernandez, Spring 2020
  • Allison Sluga, Spring 2020
  • Hannah Kirsch, Spring 2020
  • Israel Zaldivar, Spring 2020
  • Julie Mahlfeldt, Spring 2020

  • Camryn Lizik, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Nandini Sharma, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Priya Borah, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Claudia Fragoso, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Sarah Clifford, Fall 2019, Spring 2020
  • Amber Kanechika, Spring 2019
  • Jamie Muldrew, Spring 2019
  • Jaycee Nez, Spring 2019

Fall 2020 & Spring 2021 Software Engineering Capstone

  • Nicholas Hunter
  • Eric Magoffin
  • Tyler Rainboth
  • Daniella Urteaga-Diaz
  • Dallas Zinn

Fall 2019 & Spring 2020 Software Engineering Capstone

  • Curtis Smith
  • Jess Valdez
  • Christopher Risser
  • Catherine Khongsaly
  • Tony Conrad
  • Alper Mencek
  • David Plotzke
  • Jeremiah Mille
  • Joshua Paragoso
  • Tanner Zuran

Spring 2019 Software Engineering Grad Capstone (SolarSPELL Digital Library Rapid Prototype Tool)

  • Gopika Pai
  • Maitreyi Thakkar
  • Rishabh Modi
  • Sangeetha Swaminathan
  • Shubham Vyas
  • Aashita Priya

Spring 2019 Software Engineering Grad Capstone (SolarSPELL Application & Module Integration)

  • Binbin Yan
  • Pratik Bartakke
  • Supriya Ramaswamy lyer
  • Abhinab Mohanty
  • Mitali Kulkarni
  • Saurabh Prakash

Spring 2019 Thunderbird Capstone (MySolarPi)

  • Brenda Rubio-Sanchez
  • Isaac Miller
  • Kylee San Miguel
  • Nick Shively
  • Ka Peng Nicole Lei
  • Omar Alothiam
  • Ricardo (Ritchie) Reyes

Present

  • Lyndee Anderson, DNP
  • Katie Andrusaitis, DNP
  • Brooke Bettis, MBA
  • Eleni Birhane, GTD
  • Samantha Cayo, MLIS
  • Diamond Chavez, DNP
  • Amanda de Carvalho, GTD
  • Julie DeGregorio, DNP
  • Betty Dray, DNP
  • Primrose Dzenga, PhD
  • Amira Jalaghi, DNP
  • Kate Macias, DNP
  • Magi Mumbere, DNP
  • YongYi Pan, DNP
  • Monica Ramirez, DNP
  • Courtney Raymond, 
  • Jared Sidman, GTD
  • Kimberli Spencer, DNP
  • Rachel Thompson, DNP

Past

  • Martin Perez Comisso, SFIS HSP PhD
  • Samantha Whitman, SFIS HSP PhD
  • Zeinab Serhan, Global Technology and Development MS
  • Alyssa Lehn, Doctoral Nursing Student
  • Amira Jalaghi, Doctoral Nursing Student
  • Katie Andrusaitis, Doctoral Nursing Student