Meet the Team

Alyssa Briggs headshot


  • President & CEO

    Alyssa Briggs is one of the driving forces behind STEM Playbook, where she and her team have already helped create transformative learning experiences for over 10,000 students. Think of her as a collaborative team captain—bringing together educators, industry pros, and community partners to make STEM education as engaging as a great game.

    With a background that spans award-winning journalism, university teaching, and leading successful companies and non-profits, Alyssa knows how to build winning partnerships.

    When she's not working - which is a rarity - you'll find Alyssa embracing her perfectly imperfect athletic pursuits. She's a mid-level skier who sometimes gravitates to the bunny hills. She loves kayaking and golf (though her short game needs serious work.) She keeps giving pickleball another shot—because sometimes the best plays come from trying again.

    Alyssa holds degrees from Northwestern University, Youngstown State University, and Union Institute and University. She splits her time between Cleveland and Northern Michigan with her husband Rob, two adult children, and one granddaughter—all while maintaining their impressive streak of staying out of emergency rooms during their winter and summer sports adventures.

    Education: B.A. Northwestern University, M.A. English Youngstown State University, Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Studies Union Institute and University

David Boone Headshot


  • Chief Technology Officer

    David Boone is the tech visionary behind STEM Playbook, where he transforms big ideas into scalable digital solutions for students and educators. A Harvard-trained computer scientist with experience at Microsoft and years as a venture-backed EdTech founder, David blends entrepreneurial insight with deep technical expertise to build platforms that grow with impact.

    Previously, he founded BlendEd to help professors move courses online during the pandemic and served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Encore Venture Labs, guiding high-potential ideas into successful companies. Beyond his professional roles, David serves on the board of Kinnect, supporting permanency for children in foster care.

    At STEM Playbook, his superpower is transforming complex challenges into technology that simply works—so educators can focus on inspiring the next generation of problem solvers.

    Education: A.B. Computer Science, Harvard University

Jessie Dann headshot


  • Director of Strategy & Implementation

    Meet Jessie Dann, our Director of Strategy & Implementation and unofficial head of the idea factory! As a founding member of STEM Playbook, Jessie brings the perfect blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution to help turn big ideas into real-world impact for students and educators.

    With her English Literature background from Arizona State University, Jessie knows how to craft compelling narratives—whether she's developing outreach strategies, building partnerships, or helping implement programs that make STEM as exciting as the sports we love. Her experience spans from digital marketing to retail training, giving her a unique perspective on how to connect with diverse audiences and make complex concepts accessible.

    Before joining the STEM Playbook team, Jessie honed her outreach expertise at TIES (Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM) and NEO:STEM, where she learned the ins and outs of building strong STEM learning ecosystems. Now she channels that experience into directing our strategic initiatives and making sure our innovative programs actually make it from the drawing board to the classroom.

    Jessie's superpowers? She can spot opportunities in seemingly disconnected ideas and land them beautifully. Plus, she has an amazing gift for getting kids up and moving and laughing—which comes naturally to someone who played football on an all-boys team and is an expert downhill skier. She's the bridge between “this exists.." and "here's how this can connect."

    Education: B.A. English Language and Literature, Arizona State University

Taryn Frederico headshot


  • Director of Content & Implementation

    Meet Taryn, Director of Content & Implementation at STEM Playbook.
    She’s the person the team counts on to turn ideas into action and keep projects running smoothly. With her background as a Project Manager at TIES and years of experience making big ideas doable, Taryn is the steady hand that keeps our programs moving from concept to classroom.

    Taryn blends organization with creativity. She’s managed large STEM education projects and, in an earlier chapter, worked as a Senior Stylist at Stitch Fix—where she learned the art of listening, anticipating needs, and delivering just the right fit. Her degree in Fashion Merchandising from The University of Akron gave her an eye for detail and timing—skills she now puts to work ensuring every piece of a program comes together.

    Whether it’s developing content that makes STEM fun and clear or coordinating the behind-the-scenes details that make our events run without a hitch, Taryn has a gift for staying a few steps ahead.

    Outside of work, she’s what we call the ultimate “spectator athlete.” She’s the loyal fan on the sidelines with the first-aid kit, the snacks, and the support that keeps everyone going. That same caring, organized energy is what makes her such a strong leader for our team and the students we serve.

    Education: B.A. Fashion Merchandising, The University of Akron

Veronica Gonzales Headshot

  • Director of Marketing & Business Development

    Meet Veronica Gonzales, our Director of Marketing & Business Development and a founding partner who brings over a decade of experience building bridges among education, philanthropy, and business. With her unique talent for creating partnerships that stick and campaigns that inspire, Veronica helps STEM Playbook connect with the communities, sponsors, and stakeholders who make our programs possible.

    Veronica's impressive background spans leadership roles at TIES (where she served as Executive Vice President), STEM NEXT Opportunity Fund (as Director of Communications), and Silicon Valley Education Foundation. She's designed high-impact events reaching thousands of leaders, developed messaging frameworks for multi-million dollar NSF projects, and mastered the art of aligning funders, policymakers, and practitioners around shared goals—exactly the skills needed to scale innovative STEM education.

    Her academic foundation includes a Master of Science in Social Work with a focus on International Relations from Columbia University and a Bachelor's in International Relations from the University of San Francisco. This combination gives her both the strategic mindset and the human-centered approach that drives effective partnerships and authentic storytelling.

    Veronica has a gift for seeing the bigger picture while managing the details that matter. She develops integrated marketing campaigns and cross-sector partnerships that don't just expand our reach—they deepen our impact. Whether she's building relationships with corporate sponsors or creating educator resources, she ensures that everything we do stays true to our mission of making STEM accessible and engaging for all students.

    As for sports…Veronica is the kind of person who is game for anything and will try everything. She played halfback in soccer, ran the 100M and 400M in track, and was known for being a point guard with sharp elbows in basketball during her earlier years. Lately, she’s been learning tennis and re-attempting distance running (a COVID hobby). 

    Education: B.A. International Relations and Affairs, University of San Francisco; M.S. Social Work, Columbia University

Mwape Trunell headshot


  • Chief Operating Officer

    Mwape Trunell serves as our Chief Operating Officer, bringing the operational expertise and strategic vision that keeps STEM Playbook running smoothly while we scale our impact. With her diverse background spanning real estate, nonprofit development, and STEM education ecosystems, Mwape knows how to build systems that work and partnerships that last.

    Currently splitting her time between STEM Playbook and NEO:STEM, Mwape has been deeply embedded in the STEM Learning Ecosystems movement at TIES since 2023, where she's gained invaluable insight into what it takes to create sustainable educational change. Her seven-plus years at Places.NYC as both a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson and Business Operations Specialist taught her how to navigate complex deals and manage multiple moving parts—skills that translate perfectly to orchestrating our educational partnerships and program implementations.

    Before diving into STEM education, Mwape honed her operational leadership as Operations Manager in the Development Office at the Archdiocese of New York, where she learned the art of managing resources, building relationships, and achieving ambitious goals with limited budgets—basically perfect training for the startup world!

    Her academic foundation in Political Science from Hunter College and International Relations from The Graduate Center at CUNY gives her a global perspective on collaboration and systems thinking that helps STEM Playbook navigate partnerships across diverse communities and organizations.

    Mwape is the steady hand that turns our big dreams into operational reality, ensuring that every student we serve gets the transformative STEM experience they deserve. When she's not busy keeping our organization running like clockwork, you'll find her reading. 

    As for playing any sports…Mwape will neither admit nor deny whether she actually plays any herself.

    Education: B.A. Political Science and Government, Hunter College; M.A. International Relations, The Graduate Center, City University of New York

Partner with Our Team.

Want to bring STEM Playbook to your school, afterschool program, or community organization?

Looking for a high-energy, high-impact STEM education strategy that engages students through sports and prepares them for real-world careers?

Connect with us, we’d love to explore what’s possible.