Playful Learning Lab staff
Creating engaging, hands-on experiences for K-12 students, with an emphasis on real-world applications of the materials covered in the University of St. Thomas engineering department. Below are the students working within the Playful Learning Lab, as well as laboratory alumni..
DR. annmarie thomas
The founder and director of the Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas, Dr. AnnMarie Thomas is passionate about creating engaging learning environments for learners and educators.
dr. deb besser
The director of the University of St. Thomas Center for Engineering Education and a research affiliate in the Playful Learning Lab where she directs our educational research efforts.
Dr. Jeff Jalkio
A member of the physics and engineering faculty at the University of St. Thomas, Jeff serves as a technical advisor for the Playful Learning Lab.
Maria Baklund
(Mechanical Engineer, Peace Engineering Minor '21) is working on Ok Go Sandbox as a math lead to create educational resources to inspire STEAM excitement among students, as well as helping in laboratory organizational projects.
Abby Bensen
(English, Communication and Journalism ’21) is working as the lead editor for Playful Learning Lab projects.
Marcus Cundiff
(Finance, Economics '21) employs analytics and business best practices to support efficient laboratory administration and recordkeeping.
Alyssa Eggersgluss
(Vocal K-12 Music Education ‘20) is a member of the OK Go Sandbox and Code & Chords teams. She’s working to develop educational tools from both projects for teachers in K-12 classrooms.
Rachel Farah
(Computer Engineering, ‘21) Working on the Code & Chords Education and MN Children’s Museum teams. Here she utilizes her laboratory experience and love of teaching STEM by building and designing interactive tech in collaboration with lab partners.
Hannah French
(Mechanical Engineering ’20) is a Mechanical Engineering major at University of St. Thomas, currently working on the OkGo Sandbox project as project manager and as a peer mentor for the Engineering Graphics and Design class (ENGR 171).
Cassie Froese
(English and Communications & Journalism '19) is working in production for the Playful Learning Lab, bringing a passion for telling meaningful stories in creative ways to producing educational videos with the Code + Chords team.
Collin Goldbach
(Mechanical Engineering '20) is working on the OK Go Sandbox to bring creative learning exercises to K-12 classrooms and seeks to apply engineering principles to hobbies like blacksmithing and tool-making.
Mikyla Harjamaki
(Mechanical Engineer , Mathematics Minor '21) is majoring in Mechanical Engineer and minoring in Mathematics. She is the lab operations manager and project lead for OK Go Sandbox.
Kristina Harfmann
(Computer Science '21) is on the Code+Chords team, where she is using her love for choir and coding experience to advance software.
Miranda Herz
(Entrepreneurship Major, Sustainability & Communications and Journalism Minors '19) is a member of the OK Go Sandbox team, working on digital marketing to drive awareness and participation in PLL activities.
McKenzie Hickey
(Communications & Journalism, English Minor '19) is a Strategic Communication and Advertising major, working for the OK Go Sandbox project, assisting with communications and design for the lab.
Garrison Hoffbeck
(Entrepreneurship ‘19) is a marketing strategist, creating digital content for the Playful Learning Lab, sharing PLL resources and tools, and inspiring public awareness.
Lizzy Johnson
(Mechanical Engineering '20) is a Peer Mentor for Engineering Graphics and Design.
Cullen Kittams
(Computer Science, Math Minor '21) is a member of the Code + Chords team. He is passionate about finding new applications for technology and solving problems.
Becca Leininger
(Mechanical Engineering ’22) is working on CAD modeling for multiple Playful Learning Lab projects including OK Go Sandbox and our work with the MN Children's Museum. She is the lead student researcher for STEPS.
Grace Kubista
(Civil Engineering, ‘21) Project Manager for the Code+Chords team in the Playful Learning Lab. Exploring ways that STEM intersects with creative passions and finding ways to inspire new generations of engineers.
Julia lindell
(Electrical Engineering, Physics, Operations and Supply Chain Management '23) is working on Minnesota Children's Museum projects and exploring her love for designing and problem solving.
Emma Monson
(Elementary Education Major, STEM Education Co-Major '22) is the lead on the Deaf Education projects and also a member of the Code + Chords team. She's working on integrating STEAM concepts into education through the lab.
Chris Nguyen
(Dougherty Family College ‘20) is a member of the Deaf Education project for Playful Learning Lab. Chris loves science, and working with animals and children.
Jackie Page
(Entrepreneurship and Marketing, '20) is a member of the Ok Go Sandbox team working on digital and social media strategy. She also supports ongoing marketing for the Playful Learning Lab.
Alix Putnam
(Health Promotion Major, Entrepreneurship and Spanish Minors '19) is a member of the Circus Science team and is working to combine her knowledge and passion of biomechanics and physiology with technology.
Molly Roche
(Elementary Education ’20) is a member of the OK Go Sandbox Team. She is merging passions for music and teaching by working to help provide hands-on, STEAM-focused content for educators.
PATRICK ROCHE
(Electrical Engineering ’22) is a member of the Circus Science team and the Code + Cords team and works with both projects to apply STEAM concepts in new and dynamic ways.
Elise Rodich
(Mechanical Engineering, Materials Minor ’22) is a peer mentor for engineering graphics and design and participates in several Playful Learning Lab projects, including STEPS.
Krista Schumacher
(Elementary Education Major, STEM Education Co-Major '21) is a member of the OK Go Sandbox Team. She is excited to work on projects to peak student interest in STEM.
Sara Thibault
Communication and Journalism - Creative Multimedia '21) is working as a graphic designer for the Playful Learning Lab and marketing member for OK Go Sandbox.
Esmee Verschoor
(Communications & Journalism ’20) is working as a graphic designer for the Playful Learning Lab. She is focusing on designing engaging and creative content for lab projects including OK Go Sandbox and the Center for Engineering Education.
VERDIS WEBB IV
(Creative Writing' 19) is a member of the Playful Learning Lab, striving to be a comic book writer.
Affiliated educators
Jill Jensen
With 20+ years in science education, Jensen is now a K-5 Science Specialist at Glacier Hills Elementary School of Arts & Science, where she works to inspire students, staff and community members to find the joy in science, engineering, art, nature and technology.
Allison Knoph
Allison has been teaching in elementary classrooms for seventeen years. She is passionate about helping transform the experience of education, and loves connecting students to inspiring projects and people.
Jenna Laleman
(Elementary Education and STEM, psychology minor '18) is working on projects (including our STEPS program)focusing on developing lessons that encourage hands-on, fun ways for students to engage in engineering activities.
Caroline Little
A grA graduate of NASA's inaugural Microgravity University for Educators, Caroline teaches middle-school science and engineering. She spent the first part of her educator journey teaching French and moderating an engineering co-curricular, the Experimental Vehicle Team. She strives to inspire students to SEE themselves as Scientists, Engineers, and Explorers of the world around them.
Cindy Nordstrom
A 5th grade teacher and school board member, Cindy loves integrating Design Thinking into curricula, offering students the tools to solve real-life problems in a collaborative way.