Board of Directors
Sierra STEM’s volunteer Board of Directors is charged with guiding the overall direction and long-term financial planning of our nonprofit organization so that we can fulfill our mission for many years to come.
Our Board’s membership combines deep expertise and diverse experience in schools (public and independent, as well as colleges and universities), outdoor education and enrichment programming, STEM fields, environmental stewardship, accounting and finance, legal fields and risk management, marketing and communications, fundraising and grant-writing, government and public policy, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership. We also ensure that our Board has geographic diversity, with members hailing from both our local community and throughout California and the United States.
Dr. Neal Fox, Ph.D.,
President and Executive Director
Neal founded Sierra STEM in 2021 as a sole proprietorship with the goal of offering experiential learning and community building programs for students of all ages. With a background in neuroscience, professional work as a high school teacher, and a wealth of experience in the outdoors, he brings a broad skill set and clear vision to the everyday operation of Sierra STEM.
Emily Fox, J.D., Secretary
Emily is Assistant County Counsel for our local municipality, Mono County, and has additional professional experience as a contract lawyer and litigator. She provides critical advice on legal, procedural, and policy decisions that affect Sierra STEM while also helping keep the Board of Directors organized and focused.
Melissa Renda, Treasurer
Melissa is a former technology marketing executive and an experienced nonprofit leader in Southern California who is currently pursuing an advanced certification in nonprofit accounting. Her wisdom is critical as we build and grow our financial management systems, bookkeeping procedures, and fundraising capacity.
Aaron Whitmore
Aaron is the owner of Little, Molligan & Whitmore, LLC, an educational consulting firm in the Bay Area. As a student advisor with a background in teaching and coaching, he provides guidance on school outreach and partnership development, while also supporting the growth of Sierra STEM’s new programs and curriculum.
John Buttram
John is an engineer and founder of Tandem Building Solutions in Kansas City and has additional professional experience as a digital product developer. Always ready to think critically and creatively, John brings to Sierra STEM invaluable skill sets in process efficiency, organization, and logistics planning.
Kelsey Glastetter
Kelsey is a forestry program manager for the Sierra Nevada Alliance and has a background in environmental science and outdoor education. With a knack for resourcefulness and boundless motivation, Kelsey provides critical support to our fundraising and grant writing efforts.
Missy Larsen
Missy is a local nonprofit superhero, having served on the boards of multiple organizations that support Mono County art programs, youth services, and civic functions. With a professional background in pediatric physical therapy, she provides important insight and sage advice on an enormous range of topics around our logistics, outreach, and short- and long-term planning.
Paul McFarland
Paul is currently serving as Mono County Supervisor for our local district, and has a storied history of starting successful nonprofits and leading local organizations. He offers a depth of experience in public policy and community engagement, not to mention nonprofit operations and administration.