Please get to know the Science Mill staff! Our team members are dedicated to and passionate about their work, and they bring creativity and curiosity to everything they do at the Science Mill. Scroll through our staff profiles to learn a bit more about each of them, and check back as we add more! 

Sherry Vaughn

One of the first—and friendliest—people you’re likely to meet at the Science Mill is Sherry, our Visitor Services Manager: “I greet guests and help them get oriented as they arrive. I love catching up again as they leave, to hear about their favorite experiences—especially the kids who can’t wait to come back! My personal favorite is the colorful Fractalarium exhibit. And I’m always available to “test” the bubble mix in our new Bubble Station—who doesn’t love bubbles?! I’m also proud to have helped build the Labyrinth in the Science & Art Park. The installation process was physically hard, but an incredible bonding experience with my co-workers.”

Chelsea Oliver

The greenest thumb at the Science Mill belongs to Chelsea, our new Plant Care Technician! “I’m a bit biased, but the Aquaponics Greenhouse is my favorite exhibit. That’s where you’ll find me most days—pruning, planting and keeping everything pest-free. It’s a little sanctuary; being surrounded by greenery that’s constantly evolving is pretty magical. I love that the Science Mill shares interactive and educational experiences like this with kiddos (and adults!) here in the Hill Country. Away from the Mill, I have my own ‘plant babies’ to take care of and I help on my brother’s farm, Reverse Pioneers, in Blanco."

Ryan Collister

Ryan is the Science Mill’s new Animal Care Technician! Watch him lead tortoise talks at 11:30am Thurs-Sat and 1:30pm on Sundays: “I research ways to make our animals as happy as possible. Since joining the Science Mill, I’ve been gathering interesting ideas for new exhibits. We recently welcomed a Vinegaroon in Masters of Disguise and more additions are in the works. I love seeing the look of amazement on guests’ faces when they check out our animal exhibits. I’m still amazed by the panther chameleon, too—my favorite! When I’m not at work, I like to spend time outdoors, hiking and searching for wild critters.”

Bradley Gray

Ever wonder how the Science Mill builds its far-out exhibits? Meet Bradley, the Exhibit Design Technician who creates those crazy contraptions and keeps them running: “I maintain our current exhibits and work on exciting new experiences. I love getting to collaborate with a wide array of talented staff and seeing the wide-eyed reactions of young guests. One of my favorite exhibits is the Robotic Marionette—I like the simple integration of hands-on, robotic elements and you can make him dance! I’ve spent the last few months working on the new Remarkable Reflectors exhibit. It’s an awesome sound experiment: if you position two parabolic arcs just right, you can hear a whisper from over 40 feet away. Finding the right materials was tricky at first; then we realized repurposed satellite dishes would work perfectly!” [Note: Remarkable Reflectors is now open in our Science & Art Park—come check it out!]

“In Johnson City, you can catch me walking the trails around the Lyndon B. Johnson Settlement or at the monthly Art Walk event, visiting the galleries of all the talented artists in town.”

Mary Ruggles

Meet Mary, our Assistant Director of Education! “I create engaging curriculum and activities for our Learning Labs, Homeschool Days, summer camps and virtual Professional Development for teachers. I also bring our Labs on the Go into schools and help lead outreach programs. One of my favorites was our Science Outside camp. We spent a week with the same students, so we were able to build relationships and see them grow as learners. It was so fun to see them get excited about new experiences, like bird watching or kayaking, and embrace doing science in the field. Here at the museum, I love to watch students play outside on the Incredible Ball Machine. They always have so many questions about it, and I think one of the best ways to learn is to play!”

Mary's top picks in Johnson City include walking on the Johnson Settlement Trail and using the iNaturalist app to identify plants and critters I run across on the trail. "Visiting the local art shops and restaurants is always fun. On weekends, we often ride out to the LBJ Ranch and walk through the national park.”

Karla Regino

Those positive vibes when you arrive at the Mill? They come courtesy of Karla, our Visitor Services Associate, who shares her joy for learning: “The best part about working at the Science Mill is that you learn while you have fun! You’ll usually find me at the front desk, welcoming our guests. There are so many cool exhibits, but I especially like Chemical Reactions—it’s like a digital laboratory. I’m also inspired by the Aquaponics Greenhouse. During our pandemic downtime, my family actually created our own aquaponics garden! We also downloaded the iNaturalist app to help us identify plants and animals on our walks; we learned about it from an episode of the Explorer Zone.”

“Johnson City has so much history! And the Science Mill is a special part of it, with our building dating back to 1880. There are also beautiful places to go swimming and trails for walks."

Amber Middlebrook

My work takes me out into the community, where I collaborate with schools, districts and other organizations to bring Science Mill programs to their students. I also train teachers in hands-on, inquiry-driven, challenge-based ways to teach STEM. I miss working with kids directly, but I love seeing the impact of our programs on schools across the state. One of my favorite Science Mill exhibits is the Chemical Reactions table: I struggled with chemistry in school, and a visualization tool like this would have been amazing! BUT, because my heart belongs to animals, I have to shout-out BioLab and Masters of Disguise; the panther chameleon, Rango, is my absolute favorite animal friend!

Jessica Gillespie

Jessica’s official title may be Senior Programs Coordinator, but she’s also the “Group Visit Guru” who helps create memorable experiences for groups, schools and camps: “Most days on the job, you will find me juggling different projects. During the fall and spring seasons, I am coordinating our School Field Trips and Homeschool Days. In the summer, I am busy with registrations and communications for our STEM Immersion Camps. Getting to work in the museum is so much fun: seeing kids’ enthusiasm and excitement for what we offer is heartwarming. Our team is fantastic and I truly enjoy being a part of such a great organization. At home, I am an avid reader; I have too many books—I could run my own library!”

Colleen King

Meet Colleen, our STEM Education Specialist, who finds creative ways for kids to learn science by doing science: “I’m usually in the Science Mill’s Learning Lab, testing out hands-on curriculum ideas for programs like our Professional Development workshop. I get to be creative and collaborate with an awesome team that is as passionate about STEM education as I am! I have a tie for my favorite exhibit: I love making new chemicals and explosions at the Chemical Reactions Table, but I also enjoy basking in the beauty of the Aquaponics Greenhouse. At home, I keep the creativity going with my Star Wars drawings and trying out new vegan recipes.”

Vickey Shelley

Do the museum’s tortoises count as employees? Ask Vicky, the Science Mill’s Accountant: "The African Spurred Tortoises are my favorites—no, they’re not technically employees, but they do have a budget! I handle the museum’s bookkeeping, purchasing and Human Resources tasks. I love working in such a historic building; the ways it’s been converted into a creative hub for both visitors and employees is inspiring. At home, my newest hobby is raising 6 chickens, who hopefully will start producing eggs early next year. I’m new to the area, so I also enjoy exploring and getting to know the Hill Country."

Vicky’s recommendations in Johnson City: “During my lunch break, I like to take walks around the LBJ Ranch. The Settlement Trail is beautiful and right next door to the Science Mill.

Emilee Meinert

Emilee, our STEM Outreach Specialist, loves questions! Her work is all about encouraging students’ curiosity, in person or online. "I’m usually flitting around the Mill’s Learning Labs, getting set up for kids to arrive. It’s rewarding to see students enjoy the programs we spend so much time perfecting! Behind the scenes, you’ll find me at a computer, working on our exciting new virtual programs. When I need a break, I head to the Aquaponic Greenhouse: I love feeling totally surrounded by greenery. At home, I’ve started making my own boba, or bubble tea. It’s kinda time consuming, but also very relaxing!"

Rachel Grotte

For Rachel, our STEM Education Specialist, it’s all about the “Ah-ha!” moments: "You’ll typically find me shuttling between the Learning Lab and my computer. I’m testing out experiments, writing up lesson plans, then repeating the cycle. You know a lab is really clicking when you see that look of wonder on kids' faces; those “Ah-ha!” moments are my favorite part of working at the Science Mill! BioLab is a great spot for “Ah-ha!” moments, too. I love seeing people’s amazement at the massive zebrafish embryos or at what’s living in a drop of pond water. In my free time, I enjoy bike rides and walks with my kids to spot wildlife."

Joel Calvin

You might recognize Joel: he served as host for the Explorer Zone video series. He also filmed, animated and edited it—all in a day’s work for the Science Mill’s Creative Designer! “As Creative Designer, I work on lots of different projects—everything from exhibits and signs you see around the museum to our new virtual Professional Development for teachers. We are always trying to do something new and different, so there’s never a dull moment here. My favorite exhibit right now is Remarkable Reflectors. It’s really crazy to hear someone’s whisper from so far away! When I’m not problem solving at the Mill, I’m working on puzzles and perfecting my sourdough recipe.”

Anne Hebert

Meet Anne, our Marketing Strategist, who has helped share what’s new and exciting at the Science Mill since Day 1! “I coordinate with our creative team on ways to spread the word about the Science Mill’s amazing on-site museum experience and events, its creative educational programming, and its toy-filled Science Store. My personal “must-sees” at the Mill are all mesmerizing to watch: the 3D topographic sandbox, the Giant Wave Pendulum and the Butterfly Garden during monarch migration! It’s an honor to work with this mission-driven organization and its team, which works so hard to inspire more kids, empower more teachers, and enrich more communities with opportunities for everyone to engage with and understand science in their everyday lives.” Anne’s top picks for Johnson City: “Driving or riding a bike through the LBJ Ranch in wildflower season is the best. I love exploring small towns in Central Texas, taking photos, and hiking in state parks and trails with my family. Give me a day trip and a picnic any day of the year and I’m happy.”

Cheyanne Jackson

Cheyanne, our Marketing Coordinator, takes you behind the scenes at the museum with her eye-catching social media posts: "I'm always on the look-out for fun, surprising moments here at the Mill to share. If I'm not walking around the museum capturing the action, I'm at my desk planning our next posts. I love getting to work with a diverse group of people across departments. When I need a break, I recharge by enjoying the changing colors of the Fractalarium. Lately, I've been into working out and trying healthy new recipes. Best so far: cauliflower parm." Cheyanne's top picks in Johnson City: For extra cardio, I like to walk the trail at Johnson Settlement, next door to the Science Mill—and I borrow a colleague's dog for extra company!

Henry Salgado

Libby Pokel-Hung

Meet Henry, our caffeine-fueled STEM Education Specialist who helps teachers make the most of new tech: “Most days you’ll find me drinking coffee in another Zoom call! But seriously, I love being able to collaborate with creative individuals that are passionate about inclusive education. Together, we develop curriculum and content for learners; I also create trainings that help teachers use new technologies to support learning. At the Science Mill, I’m inspired by the Colossal Robotic Hand – it really exemplifies the convergence of art and STEM. Around the Hill Country, I love hitting the local trails on my mountain bike!”

As the Mill's Head Copywriter, Libby shares science news—everything from our latest programs to how panther chameleons change color: "I cover writing projects at the Science Mill, including our e-communications and descriptions for upcoming events and programs. But sometimes I get more unusual projects, such as writing a speech for a robot! I especially enjoyed working with the team on Masters of Disguise; creating exhibit labels always feels like I'm having a conversation with future visitors. At the Mill, my favorite activity is coding the Critter Bots. It's satisfying to experiment with different commands and see them come to life. When I'm not working, I'm chasing a toddler and building my repertoire of tasty vegetarian meals."