Building on the success of previous PSAYDN STEM initiatives and Pennsylvania’s implementation of the STEELS Standards, the 2026 PSAYDN STEM Workforce Ambassador Cohort engaged five outstanding leaders to champion career connected STEM learning across Pennsylvania’s out of school time (OST) community. Representing the Commonwealth’s five priority workforce sectors of Agriculture, Energy, Manufacturing, Robotics and Technology, and Life Sciences, the Ambassadors participated in professional learning, developed sector specific career connected learning resources, and advanced statewide advocacy highlighting the critical role of OST programs in preparing Pennsylvania’s future workforce.
The cohort included Dr. Erica Lynn Willis (Agriculture), Maisha Sturdivant (Energy), Timothy Frank (Manufacturing), Eritrea Abdulhadi (Robotics and Technology), and Anthony Michael Edmond Pinckney (Life Sciences). Their work has created lasting resources that connect youth to high demand career pathways while strengthening STEM education and workforce development throughout the Commonwealth.
PSAYDN gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the STEM Next Opportunity Fund, whose investment made this initiative possible, as well as the valued partnership of the Afterschool Alliance and the Pennsylvania Statewide STEM Ecosystem (PSSE).
Meet our 2025-2026 Ambassadors!
Eritrea Abdul-hadi
Founder and Executive Director
One Eritrea’s Care | IYS STEAF School of Excellence
Philadelphia
“The most valuable takeaway from this session was being introduced to practical frameworks that I can apply directly to my STEM programming. Equally valuable was learning more about PSAYDN as an organization and its commitment to building lasting partnerships.”
Eritrea Abdul-hadi is the founder and executive director of One Eritrea’s Care | IYS STEAF School of Excellence. She is a systems builder, strategist, and advocate passionate about turning ideas into impact. With a commitment to equity and empowerment, she designs and leads programs that open doors for youth, families, and communities to thrive.
Her work bridges vision and execution – aligning partners, resources, and people to create sustainable change.
Anthony Michael Russell Edmond-Pinckney
STEM/STEAM Tutor-NASA Ambassador Teacher
Academic Plus Tutoring
Philadelphia
“I just want to say thank you for picking me to be part of this program. It helped me to sharpen my skills!”
Anthony Michael Russell Edmond-Pinckney, M.Ed., is an innovative educator, STEM leader, and curriculum developer with more than 23 years of experience advancing science education and expanding opportunities for diverse learners. A self-described non-traditional STEM educator, he creates engaging, culturally relevant, project-based learning experiences that connect science to real-world challenges.
Anthony has developed interdisciplinary curricula spanning Life Science, Earth Science, Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Forensic Science, Climate Change, and Computer Science. He holds professional credentials in multiple science disciplines, along with micro-credentials in Climate Change and Computer Science and STEM education credentialing through the Tiger Woods Foundation.
A two-time Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) nominee and recent semifinalist, Anthony has presented at national and regional conferences, including the National Science Teaching Association (2025).
Timothy Frank
Director of Community Engagement
Johnson College
Scranton
Tim Frank is a strength-focused, community-driven professional with over a decade of experience in education and community engagement. He currently serves as director of community engagement at Johnson College, where he leads strategic initiatives that connect students, educators, and community partners through innovative programming.
Throughout his career, Tim has developed and managed impactful programs including STEM education initiatives, summer learning experiences, and workforce development partnerships, reaching hundreds of students annually. He brings expertise in leadership, grant management, staff development, and community building, with a proven ability to grow programs, secure funding, and foster meaningful collaboration.
A Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, Tim is passionate about helping individuals and organizations maximize their potential.
Maisha Sturdivant
Vice President, Operations
STEM Coding Lab
Pittsburgh
“The most valuable takeaway I gained were three: building new relationships within my chosen field – supporting youth education, drafting resources for public consumption, and participating in public advocacy.”
Maisha Sturdivant believes a zip code should never define a child’s future. After more than 20 years leading healthcare technology initiatives, she joined STEM Coding Lab (SCL) in 2024 to help expand opportunities for young people through STEM education.
During her IT career, Maisha led large-scale technology projects and managed multimillion-dollar portfolios. Although she had no formal technology training, an early career opportunity revealed an unexpected passion for software development. That experience shaped her belief that many children have untapped potential simply because they lack exposure to STEM.
As head of operations at SCL, Maisha oversees programs that provide coding, robotics, engineering, and AI education to more than 4,000 K–8 students annually across Allegheny County. Through hands-on learning experiences, SCL helps students develop creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, empowering them to pursue futures they may never have imagined possible.
Erica Willis
Training Grant and Fellowship Advocate
Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO), Penn State
University Park
Erica Willis collaborates with faculty and research offices across Penn State to develop multi-college interdisciplinary training grant proposals. She works closely with the SIRO training grant coordinator and research administrators to collect demographic data, analyze datasets, ensure compliance with sponsor guidelines, draft non-technical sections of proposals, and facilitate final proposal reviews.
Erica joined SIRO in 2025 and has over 10 years of experience in developing federal and foundation grant proposals and annual reports. Additionally, she has expertise in federal grant management, including day-to-day program implementation and assessment, with a strong focus on analyzing and reporting on large data sets required for annual performance reporting.
Before joining SIRO, Erica spent 16 years at Penn State Greater Allegheny, where she directed the Trio Student Support Services program for nine years. In this role, she authored grant proposals and developed and managed annual budgets, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and alignment with program objectives.