Meet Our Leaders
Our Board
The PS Science Board of Directors provides oversight and strategic direction for all of our programming. Led by representatives from a variety of leading STEM fields, our board drives the innovation, improvement, and expansion of PS Science offerings.
Our board members live and work in Southern California and are passionate about the communities PS Science serves. We invite you to read through their short bios below – you will be inspired!
Alex Klyce –
Board Chair
Technology Entrepreneur
Childhood Ambition: To not get caught
First Job: Paper Route (remember newspapers?)
Fun Science Fact: If you took out all the empty space in our atoms, the whole human race could fit in the volume of a sugar cube.
If I were an element, I would be: Krypton. Good for keeping Superman in line, and for lasers (pew pew).
PS Science because… In our post manufacturing society, technological and scientific advancements need to be one of the pillars of our economy going forward. Many fewer factory workers, many more knowledge workers.
Gen Yoshimaru
Educator and Advocate
Childhood Ambition: To be a teacher.
First Job: Working at Magic Mountain the year it opened.
Fun Science Fact: When I was 7, I discovered that you can squish Ice Plant and use the juice as ink. Be careful, though, it does not wash off easily!
If I were an element, I would be: Cu – Copper, because I also conduct heat and electricity easily.
PS Science because… Actively DOING science stimulates questioning, observation, reasoning, and risk taking, all of which are essential to innovation. The PS Science students of today are the innovators of tomorrow!
Roger Weaver
Educator/Non-profit Consultant
Childhood Ambition: To be an astronaut
First Job: Dishwasher in a coffee shop
Fun Science Fact: You can boil water in a paper cup by putting it in a blazing campfire.
If I were an element, I would be: Carbon, because it is the basis for all organic molecules; it is the source of all life.
PS Science because… Every child in America deserves a high quality science education and our planet’s survival depends on a scientifically literate population.
Babak Fardin
Ophthalmologist
Childhood Ambition: Astronaut
First Job: Science Lab Technician
Fun Science Fact: If you take all the blood vessels out of an average child and laid them out in one line, the line would stretch over 60,000 miles. An adult’s would be closer to 100,000 miles long.
If I were an element, I would be: Flourine and all the halogens in general… because life is about forming strong bonds.
PS Science because… The attack on science by politics in this historical moment is alarming and dangerous. We need to be proactive in making sure that all young students are exposed to and understand the importance of the fundamentals of science. We can no longer just assume it will happen, because unless we’re involved, it likely won’t.
Sharyar Baradaran
Periodontist
Childhood Ambition: To be a doctor and fly a helicopter
First Job: Create a gutter around a tennis court to allow water to drain
Fun Science Fact: There are 206 bones in the adult human body and there are 300 in a child (as they grow, some of the bones fuse together).
If I were an element, I would be: Titanium. I use it every day in surgery placing implants in the jaw used as a foundation to rebuild lost teeth.
PS Science because… We are all scientists in some shape or form. Science leads to discovery for the betterment of mankind. Each young mind deserves a chance to explore science in their own way.
Heather Felix
Intellectual Property Marketer/Educator
Childhood Ambition: Research Scientist
First Job: Babysitter
Fun Science Fact: The average human body carries ten times more bacterial cells than human cells.
If I were an element, I would be: Neon- because who doesn’t need more bright, fun light in their lives?
PS Science because… All kids deserve to have the joy of discovery and problem solving that comes from a hands-on science education.
Alisha White Madison
School Administrator
Childhood Ambition: To be a zoologist
First Job: Famous Amos Cookie Company
Fun Science Fact: Stomach acid is strong enough to dissolve stainless steel but our body protects itself by secreting an alkali bicarbonate solution. Our stomach lining is renewed every four days.
If I were an element, I would be: Calcium – I like being a building block for a health structure that enables the free flow of blood, our brain muscle to contract, and our heart to beat.
PS Science because… I want to be a catalyst on impacting and empowering our youth by providing a solid STEM foundation for them to excel.
Bud Jacobs
Educational Leadership
Childhood Ambition: World Travel
First Job: High School Teacher
Fun Science Fact: Skipping rocks on a frozen pond produces a beautiful, eerie echo sound.
If I were an element, I would be: Iron.
PS Science because… Kids need to know the magic!
Joy Watt
Former Elementary Educational Technology STEAM Coordinator
Childhood Ambition:
To be a magician and teacher (later found out they are the same)
First Job: Mannequin model for department store teen section.
Fun Science Fact: You can’t hear and talk at the same time.
If I were an element, I would be: Helium because I try to be lighthearted and uplifting as much as possible.
PS Science because… I hope for STEM learning opportunities to find children who have no idea how talented and creative they are until they experience a wonderful Science lesson that opens up their entire world!
Genaro Trejo
Managing Director
Childhood Ambition: To be an architect
First Job:Graffiti removal with the LAPD
Fun Science Fact: You can’t taste without saliva. Chemicals from the food must dissolve in saliva so they can be detected by receptors in our taste buds.
If I were an element, I would be:Cobalt. I got to research the element as a kid, and now it’s in every cell phone.
My hope for PS Science is: That we continue as to serve as many students as we can
Paul Cummins
Rob Solomon
