Board & Staff
Committed to student success.
Oregon MESA’s staff and advisory board are committed to reaching more schools, strengthening existing programs, and developing partnerships in order to fulfill our mission for achieving equity in STEM.
MESA Staff
SARA FREEDMAN
PSU Regional Coordinator
Sara delights in managing the details of events and other programs that build community. She has run seven years of science fairs and family science nights at an elementary school, large-scale neighborhood cleanups, emergency preparedness fairs, and candidate’s forums during election season. With a master’s degree in Geography from Portland State University, she started off her career working as a Cartographer in natural resource management. Originally from Schenectady in upstate New York, Sara has considered Portland her cherished home since 1992. She loves to see live music, travel and takes every opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.
JONAS HUDNALL
Education Coordinator
With thirteen years of experience as an educator and a Master of Science in Communications from Portland State University, Jonas is a passionate diversity, equity, and inclusion advocate. Originally from Nashville, TN, Jonas previously worked with non-profits for the overall progression of the Black American ethnic group, and focused his graduate thesis on mentorship and representation for black youth in environmental and related fields. In his free time, Jonas enjoys listening and creating music, dancing, video games, language learning and just overall being able to let his creativity flow and be nourished.
MICHELLE PEREZ
Operations & Data Manager
A graduate from Portland State University with a B.S. degree in Environmental Science and Management, Michelle worked for community and sustainability with the CCAR Research Experience for Undergraduates Program, and PSU’s Student Sustainability Center Garden Task Force. Prior to her MESA position, Michelle was an Operational and Sustainability Consultant in Arizona. As a member of the Latinx community, Michelle strives for equity while empowering students to find their confidence in the STEM fields.
MIRIAM PETERSEN
Family Coordinator
Miriam was born in the magic city of Cusco-Peru many moons ago. She emigrated to The United States of America four decades ago with all her family. As an immigrant family, they all have to start learning the languages, and costumes to be part of the society. Throughout her experiences, Miriam saw the urgent need to advocate for the immigrant community by working with organizations that educate help, and empower the immigrant community to be contributed citizens. Miriam has worked with Oregon MESA since 2007 seeing with great satisfaction that hard work pays when program students achieve the highest education and are successful citizens.
ABBY PROCTER
Engagement Specialist
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Abby is a PSU transfer student studying physics. A STEM outreach program at University of Utah geared towards young girls sparked her passion for science and youth engagement. During the COVID-19 pandemic she worked as an infectious disease Medical Laboratory Technician, exploring the different aspects of STEM. Appreciating the importance of science, it has become her mission to create opportunities for underrepresented groups to engage in STEM through the MESA program.
MICHELA SOTTURA
Partnerships & Communications Manager
Born and raised in Italy, Michela is an international graduate with a B.A. in English. Prior to joining MESA in 2019, Michela worked for the Portland Community College Women’s Resource Center, serving the Portland community with a feminist intersectional approach. Michela brings her passion for equity and creativity to MESA, overseeing external communications, branding, and fundraising. Michela is committed to MESA’s work to create an equitable STEM future of talented, empowered, and diverse innovators.
ELIZABETH STOCK
Executive Director
Elizabeth is an innovative leader and strategic thinker with extensive experience driving nonprofits and community-based initiatives. Prior to joining MESA, she served as executive director of PDX Women in Tech, a local organization working to create access, dismantle inequities, and fuel belonging in the tech industry. Prior to that, she was with Boys & Girls Aid, and managed partnerships at Diversa edu. Creating an equitable future has been a steady thread throughout her career. She is honored to join an organization that ensures students have the access, support, and resources needed to reach their highest potential.
KIANA MALU WILLHOFT
Social Media & Marketing Specialist
Kiana is an undergraduate student at Portland State University, studying Business Administration with a major in Human Resource Management. Beyond academics, she is deeply passionate about representation in filmmaking and has collaborated with esteemed film companies such as A24. Kiana also runs a small multi-media art business, where she channels her creativity into diverse artistic endeavors. Balancing business acumen with artistic flair, Kiana aspires to make a meaningful impact for Oregon MESA and is passionate about the pursuit to uplift youth and representation in STEM.
Regional Coordinators
SASHA CHANG, Regional Coordinator for Connected Lane County
SARA FREEDMAN, Regional Coordinator for Multnomah County
MARY JANE OWEN, Regional Coordinator for Klamath Falls
KAYLA KNEELAND, Regional Coordinator for Jefferson County
LESLY RODRIGUEZ, Regional Coordinator for Clackamas & Marion Counties
Advisory Board
CHRIS BOZZINI
Member | Manager in Portland General Electric's Environmental Group
Chris is a manager in PGE's environmental group responsible for site cleanup and other support within the company. He manages a staff of eight working on multiple issues including environmental cleanup, waste management, permitting, avian protection, and terrestrial biological resources. Previous to PGE, he worked in consulting at firms including CH2M Hill. Chris is a Professional Engineer with a BS in Chemical Engineering, an MS in Civil Engineering, and an MBA. Chris has been with PGE and in Portland for the last four years. He is married with two children and two dogs.
DR. JOSEPH BULL
Member | Dean of the PSU Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science
Dr. Joseph Bull is the Dean of the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. His research in biofluid mechanics and ultrasound spans theoretical modeling, in vitro/in vivo experiments, and biomedical devices, focusing on cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. As a Native American faculty member (Delaware Tribe of Indians) and first-generation college graduate, Dr. Bull is committed to advancing racial equity and diversity. He has been recognized with the Raymond J. and Monica E. Schultz Outreach and Diversity Award and has served in leadership roles supporting DEI initiatives, including faculty advisor for AISES and strategic planning at Tulane. Dr. Bull earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University. He previously served as Associate Dean for Research at Tulane and held faculty and leadership roles at the University of Michigan (2001–2016). He is a Fellow of AIMBE and a Sequoyah Fellow of AISES.
RICKY BUSTAMANTE
Member | Manager of Transmission Planning, Bonneville Power Administration
Ricky oversees reliability, expansion, and interconnection planning activities for the Northwest Federal Transmission System at the Bonneville Power Administration. Ricky is a first generation Mexican-American, born and raised in Oregon. He attended Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, Oregon, and Rice University in Houston, Texas, where he received a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. Ricky is passionate about connecting under-represented and disadvantaged youth to careers in STEM and to empowering them for professional success. His wife is a high school science teacher and they have two kids.
RIHANA MUNGIN
Chair | Tech Leader and Mechanical Engineer
Rihana Mungin enthusiastically joins the MESA advisory board as an established tech leader and Mechanical Engineer. As a first generation black college student and Portland State University alum, she supported many NASA experiments aboard the International Space Station. She worked to prepare new technology for astronauts to succeed on deep space missions as well as partnering with Nickelodeon to send Slime to space. Rihana brings her leadership expertise and passion for elevating historically marginalized communities from her tenure with PDXWIT, a Portland based non-profit paving the way for equity in the tech industry.
JACKIE MURPHY
Member | Program Officer at The Collins Foundation
Jackie currently serves as a Program Officer at The Collins Foundation. Her past roles include serving as the first full-time executive director of Airways Science for Kids, After School Program Manager for Self Enhancement, Inc. in Portland and Director of Student Services at Heritage University on the Yakama Indian Reservation. Jackie is deeply committed to connecting youth of color and under-served youth to education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Jackie has a strong background in culturally-specific and culturally-responsive education, holding a master’s in education from Heritage University.
KYLE RITCHEY-NOLL
Member I Education & Workforce Policy Director at Oregon Business Council
Kyle is the director of education and workforce policy for the Oregon Business Council, a business roundtable focused on improving Oregon’s quality of life and economic prosperity. In this role, Kyle helps advocate for equitable, student-centered learning at all levels in Oregon education. She also leads the Oregon CTE-STEM Employer Coalition. Kyle has broad experience in business leadership and engagement, collaborative partnerships, strategic initiatives, and public policy efforts. Prior to this, Kyle was the executive director of the Oregon Council of the American Electronics Association (AeA), the state’s high-tech trade association, and was previously awarded the Portland Business Journal 40 Under 40 award.
JODI SANTILLIE
Member I Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Leadership at Willamette University
Having grown up in Klamath Falls, Oregon Jodi is excited to be back in her home state after getting her Masters degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University and previously holding roles at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA and Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. In her current role as an Assistant Director for Student Engagement and Leadership at Willamette University Jodi works with the Willamette Events Board to provide fun evening and weekend programming for students, oversees the Blitz the Bearcat mascot team, and supports students clubs and organizations amongst a variety of other things. When she's not working Jodi enjoys singing with the Willamette Master Chorus, competing in multiple online trivia leagues, and spending time with her dog Ruby Pancake.
DAVID SQUIRE
Member
Dave Squire offers 45 years of executive leadership experience in Oregon high tech, and 30 years of active involvement in education, workforce and economic development. He has served on the boards of the Oregon Community College A Association board, Lintner Center for Advanced Education, the Oregon Quality Initiative, Worksystems Inc., the Leadership & Entrepreneurship Charter High School and Moyo Jasiri. He served 6 years as an elected member of the Portland Community College Board of Directors. David now serves on the boards of Oregon MESA and Saturday Academy and is a Fellow at Oregon Learns.
PATRICE WOODS
Member | Director of K - 5 Mathematics and Science for Portland Public Schools
Patrice Woods has been in the education field for 17 years, 14 of which have been specifically in mathematics education. She is national board certified for adolescent and young adult mathematics instruction and is the current Director of K - 5 Mathematics and Science for Portland Public Schools. In addition to this role, she has served on the P – 3 Advisory Council, the Regional Equity Committee for MESA, and the Mathematics content panel for ODE. She is also currently a member of the Racial Equity, Social Justice (RESJ) Core Team in PPS. Patrice is a lifelong learner and fervent about affecting systems to be equitable and culturally relevant in order to support the provision of greater outcomes for students in their STEM journey.
MICHELLE YORK
Vice Chair | Vice-chair of the Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission
Michelle York offers 20+ years as an educator in the classroom which includes advocating for student experiences in college and career readiness, mentoring new and pre-service teachers in secondary mathematics, and engaging stakeholder support for STEM opportunities in K-12. Her passion for lifelong learning led to earning National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Mathematics and a Doctorate in Education. She currently works in the Hillsboro School district as a middle grades math teacher and serves as a secondary school representative and Vice-chair of the Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission. Her interest and passion for engineering and math problem solving comes from a childhood spent in an engineering family and she continues to share the joy of discovery with the next generation.
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