SSP International Announces Expanded Programming Team, Welcoming Four New Staff Members

The nonprofit's newest team members will further the organization's mission to increase access to high-quality STEM education

NEW YORK, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SSP International, Inc. (SSPI), a nonprofit offering immersive, transformational opportunities to learn, do, and belong in science, today announced the expansion of its programs team with four key hires. The addition of four PhDs with specialties in the sciences and education is a critical step in expanding SSPI's programming and strengthening its renowned Summer Science Program, one of the longest-running pre-college science programs in the country.

"SSPI is thrilled to welcome new leaders to our programs team," said Frank Steslow, CEO of SSP International, Inc. "SSPI's vision is to build a world in which science inspires and informs humanity. To accomplish our goal, we believe we must expand our programs to increase access to high-quality STEM education to more participants and partners. I'm confident that our new team members will strengthen our existing programs and lead the way into an expanded era of impact for the organization."

SSP International's newest hires include:

Dr. Roisin Corcoran, VP of Educational Research and Evaluation, is a chartered psychologist and previously worked as a professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, the University College Dublin (UCD), and the University of Nottingham. She has designed and led multi-year, multisite projects focusing on educational interventions and the mechanisms by which they impact social, psychological, and academic outcomes. In her role with SSPI, Dr. Corcoran will support the nonprofit as it develops new programs and measures the effectiveness of its existing programing. Dr. Corcoran holds a BS in Physical Education and Mathematics and a PhD in Education from the University of Limerick in Ireland and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at Yale University.

Dr. Emaly Piecuch, Director of Genomics, joined SSPI after serving as a genomics educator at The Jackson Laboratory. While there, she developed and delivered comprehensive genomics curricula tailored for high school students, teachers, and undergraduates. Dr. Piecuch has over eight years of experience organizing and hosting genomics-based programs, workshops, and symposia while fostering collaborative and supportive learning environments. She oversees the Summer Science Program in Bacterial Genomics including the curriculum, faculty, and guest speakers. Dr. Piecuch earned her BS in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from Purdue University and her PhD in Genetics and Genomics from The University of Connecticut.

Dr. Emily Hawes, Director of Biochemistry, has been involved with SSPI since 2018, having served as a teaching assistant, residential mentor, and site director for the Summer Science Program. In her current role, she is responsible for overseeing and curating the Summer Science Program in Biochemistry, recruiting academic faculty and guest speakers, and maintaining the quality of the program. Dr. Hawes holds a BS in Biochemistry from Purdue University and a PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics from Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Nico Adams, Director of Astrophysics, recently completed a PhD in Astrophysics at the University of Minnesota, where he specialized in studying star-forming galaxies using citizen science and machine learning techniques. Dr. Adams also has a background in running and coordinating outreach programs, including the University of Minnesota's Universe in the Park program, which provides free sky tours and telescope observations in parks across Minnesota. In his current role, Dr. Adams oversees and curates the Summer Science Program in Astrophysics curriculum, identifies and recruits new faculty and guest speakers, and ensures that SSPI's Astrophysics programs maintain their quality.

About SSP International
SSP International is a nonprofit offering inspiring science immersion experiences. Founded in 1959, its mission is to provide opportunities to accelerate learning, doing, and belonging in science. SSP International's flagship program is Summer Science Program, a leading education experience for exceptional high school students in astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics and more. For more information, visit summerscience.org and follow Summer Science Program on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Contact: Jocelin Leon
Phone: (212) 337-8870
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE SSP International, Inc.