I am a collector and curator of patches related to human spaceflight and space exploration and a storyteller of their design and the people involved with the mission. In my own way, I am preserving space history by using patches as illustrations for a narrative that connects them to STEAM and the hidden figures that made the mission possible. I founded STEAM4SPACE to spark curiosity, light the flame of knowledge and inspire the launch of new possibilities for educators and students using the story of mission patches.

My interest in space science was inspired by my maternal grandfather who worked as an engineer on the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs; however, my academic career focused on earth science, studying geology. Coincidently, my pursuit of earth science created opportunities to produce science education software that changed the trajectory of my professional life. A career designing web applications and being a parent of three daughters led me to train elementary educators and students on how to design and code websites at my daughter's school. This opportunity connected me to STEM education, leaving me with a lasting impression of what an unforgettable learning experience feels like.

My personal and professional pursuits merged to produce Space eXploration Patches; a website that showcases space patches and related human interest stories. This endeavor was the catalyst for “Emblems for Educators” – a program to provide educators with a classroom set of patches to create unforgettable learning experiences. At present, over 19,000 patches have been donated to 476 educators in 17 countries thanks to a partnership with A-B Emblem; the official patch manufacturer for NASA.

Creating an unforgettable learning experience is an educator’s superpower, and sharing the story of a mission patch may be that moment that instills a love for space, forever changing the trajectory of a student. This led me to develop STEAM4SPACE; a learning strategy that uses real mission patches to engage and empower students to explore their interest in STEAM topics. The launch and continued development of STEAM4SPACE is where the journey begins for many educators and students, but it is only a beginning.

I have had the good fortune and joy of producing the website for Apollo 13 Astronaut, Fred Haise, and premier space artist and emblem designer Tim Gagnon. The goodwill and support of many educators, astronauts and others in the space community, namely Space Hipsters, has inspired me to continue “paying it forward”.