Who is Apryl Peroney? Over the past nine years, you may have seen Apryl in many different areas of the science center! She started out as a Program Presenter in the Exploration Station Gallery, moved on to present explosive and delicious science demonstrations in the Works and Kitchen Theaters, then took the reigns as the Education Coordinator for Public Programs. Currently she has been developing rockin informal education programs for all facets of CSC!  Thrilled to be a part of the GMSP team, she is excited to see where her CSC journey takes her next!! Apryl holds her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Drama from Edinboro University of PA, loves science, especially explosive physics experiments, reading (is currently in the middle of the Robert Jordan series “Wheel of Time”) and music—all kinds, no seriously! Apryl and her husband Brad love to play in the outdoors and love to travel; they will be traveling cross country from Pittsburgh to the state of Washington for their summer vacation!  They live with their two cats Fate and Junior in Pittsburgh.

Who is Athena Aardweg? It’s the end of the workweek and when the rest of the world is winding down, Athena is gearing up for major fun – she’s the dynamic force behind the Girls, Math & Science Partnership’s weekend programming. Athena was born and raised on a small family farm where she learned science first-hand by studying the natural world around her. In her position with GMSP, she organizes workshops and events, as well as future seasons of GirlTalk Radio. Whether it’s touring a high-tech company like Google or working on engaging top women as teachers, mentors or interviewees, she’s helping GMSP maximize its “facetime” with girls. When Athena isn’t working to connect real-world science opportunities to young women, she's an Information & Referral Specialist at Allegheny County Department of Human Services, where she connects critical resources and services to those who need it. She’s a true explorer who loves to discover the hidden treasures of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods by bike and on foot. Athena holds dual Master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of the Coro “Women in Leadership” program.

Who is Zach Koopmans? As Executive Assistant, Zach is in a state of perpetual motion. Whether he’s ensuring that GMSP runs smoothly each day, working with volunteers, or moving and organizing GMSP supplies, Zach has a blast at his job. A double major at Indiana University in both Music and Math and a current student at Carnegie Mellon, Zach is an extremely talented individual. His dream is to play the French horn professionally, and he pursues that goal by performing all over western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia; he’s even participated in the prestigious summer music festival hosted by the National Repertory Orchestra. Zach is drawn to GMSP by his love of mathematics and his wish for everyone, especially girls, to share his love and understanding of math. Check out some of Zach’s input to GMSP by visiting the “She’s Livin’ It” mentors section of BrainCake.org.

Who is Heather Mallak? You’ll recognize Heather, GMSP’s Web Curator, as the one in the coffeeshop with her ears, eyes and phone plugged into her trusty laptop. From building innovative flash interfaces to sending off the eblasts, no job is too big, small or impossible. After all, she’s busy keeping up with the teen girls’ expectations of the cutting-edge BrainCake community! GMSP is practically in Heather’s genetic code – her parents were both biology majors, her grandfather was a math professor, she’s totally into technology, and her favorite great uncle is a retired engineer. Heather came to GMSP from the World’s Largest Podcast network where she worked with prominent independent podcasters from across the world. Heather has degrees in Visual Communication and Interactive Media as well as a strong background in Contemporary Art. She has curated national and international gallery and museum exhibitions and her personal work has appeared on television, in magazines, and in numerous blogs. She lived in a (converted) bowling pin factory for many years but recently settled into a home of her own with her media artist husband Dror and their son Zeev.