Nicole L. Retland, Ph.D

AAAS Senior Project Director

Nicole L. Retland, Ph.D., is a scientist, strategist, and community-centered leader working at the intersection of STEMM education and workforce, public health, sustainability, and equitable community development.

She brings more than a decade of experience leading complex federally funded programs, cultivating institutional partnerships, and advancing research, education, and workforce initiatives. She earned a Ph.D. in microbiology from Howard University and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Retland is also the Owner and Founder of EcoGen Urban Solutions, a science-driven environmental consulting firm specializing in water quality, green infrastructure, environmental planning, stakeholder engagement, and resilient communities. She is certified through the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program and trained in advancing sustainable stormwater practices that improve environmental and community health outcomes.

Her commitment to environmental equity extends to the DC Go-Go Trails Collective: East of the River, which she founded to expand safe, connected access to trails, parks, and green spaces in Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8 through community engagement, environmental stewardship, storytelling, and advocacy.

Nicole is passionate about building partnerships that transform complex challenges into opportunities for healthier, more connected, and more resilient communities. Outside of work, she enjoys nature and spending time with her family.

Erika Wood

Event Operations Coordinator, CSEW, AAAS

Erika Wood joined AAAS in November of 2023 as CSEW’s new Events Operations Coordinator. As a graduate from the University of South Florida, she attained her BA in Public and Cultural Communications. Upon graduating, she embarked on the path of helping communities within the Non-profit sectors,  Experiential Events and Performing Arts.

Erika has worked as an Events Market Manager within a niche of familiar brands such as: Bumble.com, Deep River Snacks and Hallmark.

Additionally, she prides herself on community and has also worked for NYC’s Hurricane Sandy’s “Build It Back Program”, The WNET Group and the National Children’s Chorus.

Erika values the importance of making an impact on humanity and is pleased to be joining the AAAS family.

Melissa E. Wynn, Ph.D.

AAAS STEM Program Director

Melissa E. Wynn, Ph.D. is a Program Director in the Center for STEMM Education and Workforce at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In this role, she supports national initiatives designed to strengthen STEMM education, research capacity, institutional transformation, and workforce pathways, with a particular focus on postsecondary education, Minority Serving Institutions, and students from communities historically underserved in STEMM fields.

Dr. Wynn brings more than 20 years of experience leading complex programs across higher education, nonprofit, and national policy environments. Prior to joining AAAS, she served as a Program Officer with the Board on Higher Education and Workforce at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, where she directed consensus studies, convened national experts, supported governance boards, and advanced evidence-based recommendations related to STEMM higher education, mentorship, faculty success, disability inclusion, and workforce development. Her work has included programs and projects supported by NSF, NIH, NOAA, HHS, ODNI, the Sloan Foundation, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

Her previous leadership roles include directing STEM continuing education and special projects at Fielding Graduate University, managing academic leadership and NSF-supported programs at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and leading federally funded STEMM and student pathway initiatives at Howard University. Across these roles, she has led grant-funded programs, developed curricula and professional development models, managed multi-partner collaborations, organized national convenings, and supported student and faculty pathways in STEMM. Her work has consistently centered equity, mentorship, institutional capacity-building, and the development of inclusive learning and workforce ecosystems.

Dr. Wynn earned a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, an M.S. in Personality Psychology from Howard University, and a B.S. in Biology from Spelman College.

Pamela Asante

Project Manager, CSEW, AAAS

Pamela Asante (nee Pecku) is a project manager in the Center for STEMM Education and Workforce. She supports the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in STEM and HBCU Making & Innovation Initiative. Before joining AAAS, Pamela gained experience in project management, healthcare accreditation, and STEM workforce development through her time at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Society for Cell Biology.

Pamela has an M.P.H. in Community & Population Health from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a B.S. in Community Health from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Niya Ahmed

Senior Project Associate, CSEW, AAAS

Niya Ahmed supports the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) as a Senior Project Associate in the Center for STEMM Education & Workforce (CSEW). She provides logistical and administrative coordination on programs that aim to expand opportunities, access and resources to emerging STEMM students of marginalized identities.

Prior to joining AAAS, Niya fostered a career orchestrating partnership programs between stakeholder entities and under-resourced schools and student groups, nation-wide. Niya leverages her experience in Project & Operations Management as well as her Bachelors in Marketing and Management from the University of Maryland, College Park to further her career efforts.

Jeunice Lim

Event Operations Manager, CSEW, AAAS

Jeunice Lim joined AAAS in May of 2022 as the Event Operations Manager. She is responsible for supporting planning and implementation of three major convenings within AAAS’s Center for STEMM Education & Workforce (CSEW) – the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference, IUSE Summit, and Noyce Summit.  Prior to AAAS, she has worked with managing events and meetings for a non-profit organization and a hotel in the D.C. area.  She holds a BS in Business Administration from University of Maryland Global Campus.

Claire Molloy

Project Director, CSEW, AAAS

Claire Molloy is a Project Director in the Center for STEMM Education & Workforce (CSEW) at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), which she joined in August 2022. In this role, she supports programs dedicated to broadening representation and expanding opportunities in STEM, including the Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference, the HBCU Making and Innovation Initiative, and the Exemplary Pathways Partnership Project. Her work focuses on strengthening opportunities and pathways for students and faculty from communities historically underrepresented in STEM fields. Claire holds Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.