Meet the Idaho STEM Action Center Team
Dee Mooney is the Administrator of Idaho STEM Action Center. She has retired as the Executive Director of the Micron Foundation and Sr. Director of Micron’s global philanthropy programs. Since 2006, Mooney had driven Micron’s strategic giving programs, focused on collaboration efforts to develop meaningful programs that connect Micron’s people, programs and resources to community and educational partners around the world.
Under her tenure, Micron had provided nearly $200 million in global grants to a variety of causes to drive social impact through investing in stem education and careers, driving upward mobility and cultivating giving and volunteerism among Micron team members and in Idaho’s communities.
Mooney holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in industrial psychology from University of New Haven.
Stephanie is a native Idahoan with more than 15 years of experience in the development, deployment, and administration of statewide programs. She worked at the Idaho State Department of Education supporting districts, schools, and state-wide education leaders with student development and innovative testing programs. Most notably, Stephanie demonstrated her proven leadership skills as the Idaho State Assessment Program Specialist overseeing the design and facilitating implementation of the Idaho Reading Indicator Program and monitoring the program’s multi-million dollar budget as well as providing legislative reports. She also collaborated with numerous state agencies, districts and schools throughout Idaho to directly advise and support the special needs of Idaho students and educators.
Stephanie continues to demonstrate her extensive working knowledge of Idaho state education systems and has achieved progressive growth throughout her career. She eagerly joined the Idaho STEM Action Center team in October 2016 to lead and guide effective implementation of the Idaho STEM AC Grants and Contracts Programs.
Katie Bosch-Wilson is a native Idahoan with 11 years of service in public education. Katie earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education and two master’s degrees in Mathematics Education and Curriculum and Instruction. She has a graduate certificate in STEM Education with an emphasis in Computer Science. Prior to joining the STEM Action Center team, Katie taught Math and Computer Science at Capitol High School in Boise. In addition to teaching, Katie has experience working as a district content coordinator and adjunct professor at BSU,and had the honor of sitting on numerous Idaho State Department of Education committees. Katie enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and their family dog. When the weather is nice, they try to get up to the foothills and be outside as much as possible.
Francine McGrew has worked in state government for over 20 years. Francine earned her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Saint Mary’s College of California and her master’s in public administration with specialties in public personnel policy and budgeting from CSU, Northridge. Prior to joining the STEM Action Center in 2023 and before moving to Idaho, she worked as a Fiscal and Administrative Manager for California’s Desired Results and Desired Results access sponsored federal pass-through programs from California’s Department of Education, Child Development Division coordinating logistics and monitoring the projects multi-million-dollar budget. After moving to Idaho, Francine worked for several different state agencies including: DFM, Industrial Commission, and DHW before taking a break to help with a small, local computer repair company. Feeling the pull back to state service, she finally settled at the Idaho Transportation Department for over 10 years. There she spent a good portion of her time as the Operations Manager for Enterprise Technology Services handling a myriad of duties including asset management, infrastructure and department purchasing, personnel, strategy, and budget.
Francine has been just on the outskirts of the Idaho STEM arena for many years. Her favorite moment was watching her daughter and the rest of the 8th grade team win the State Science Olympiad in 2019 and travel to the National Competition at Cornell University where one of the team’s entries took 6th place among very tough competition. She also supported the building of a STEM wing at Bishop Kelly High School that now houses VEX and First robotics teams made up of BK students as well as many from other area public schools.
Francine is an avid soccer fan and player and serves the Idaho soccer community by coaching both U7 and U17 girls. She is the team manager for the Bishop Kelly Men’s Soccer Team as well as a registrar for a local club. She can be found most days watching her son play at the competitive club level and high school. Her family is also active in the Foreign Exchange Host Cultural Program through the US State Department.
Nate Dean has worked in Idaho public education for over a decade, primarily teaching secondary Science and Mathematics in Title I eligible schools. He has also served in numerous district and state-level advisory and leadership roles throughout his career, including a short tenure as the Educator Effectiveness Program Manager for the State Board of Education. Prior to joining the STEM Action Center team in 2023, he supported educators across Idaho by contracting with the State Department of Education as a state Science Coach. Nate holds an undergraduate degree in Earth Science Education and graduate degrees in both STEM Education and Educational Leadership. His professional passions are STEM assessment/grading practices, educational fairness, and environmental science. He is also an ardent foodie, dog-lover, and tabletop role-playing game enthusiast.
Sarah Howard is an entrepreneur with a deep-rooted commitment to community engagement and social impact. As a native Idahoan she is dedicated to making a sustainable difference for youth in our community. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in communication from Boise State University.
Sarah’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident through her innovative approaches to education and healthcare development and advocacy. During her time with the Idaho Council on Economic Education at Boise State University, she led the development of “Biz Camp”, a youth summer camp that introduced entrepreneurship to kids. She also programmed “Camp CashEd” youth summer camps alongside CapEd Credit Union, introducing kids to financial literacy and money management concepts. During her time at Heartland Pharmacy, Sarah spearheaded the effort to acquire, onboard and manage the largest account in the company’s 20-year history.
Outside of her professional life, Sarah is an avid skier and traveler, often exploring new horizons alongside her husband, two daughters and twin stepdaughters. Whether it’s cheering on her daughters from the volleyball or basketball bleachers or embarking on global journeys, Sarah’s enthusiasm and achievements serve as an inspiration for future entrepreneurs who aim to make a meaningful impact on their communities.
Meliah was born and raised in Idaho. She recently graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music with an emphasis on Musicology/Music History. Similarly to music, she feels finance and accounting require attention to detail as well as understanding and analyzing patterns, which she enjoys. When Meliah is not working or pursuing academic enrichment she is either playing my flute or enjoying the great outdoors with her two labs, Kimber and Sky! Meliah recently got into backpacking and has a goal to go on one weekend trip a month. When Meliah is not hiking or backpacking you can find her exploring anywhere near water while her pups enjoy a swim.
Morgan is a lifelong Idahoan and has worked in the Idaho public sector since late 2019. After graduating from the University of Idaho in 2018, she completed several internships before starting her professional career. She served as the secretary to the Idaho Senate Education Committee in 2020 and moved on to work as an administrative assistant at the Idaho State Board of Education and Boise State University. In addition to her work with the STEM Action Center, Morgan works as a freelance proofreader and developmental editor for authors and poets in the US, Canada, and Australia. She joined the STEM Action Center in 2024 to help provide opportunities for Idaho students for STEM careers that will best serve the future of Idaho. In her free time, Morgan is an ardent animal lover, reader, writer, and tabletop roleplay game player.
STEMazing Support Team
Asana was born in California and moved to Boise, Idaho when she was 12 years old. She started her adventure in technology over 30 years ago, working for Hewlett Packard and other local technology companies. She began her career in website development and graphic design in the mid-90s and became an independent contractor in 2003. She has worked with several local businesses and the State of Idaho. Asana joined the STEM team in March 2018.
Jonathon is an artist and designer with an emphasis in print-media. He is responsible for the visual style of STEM AC designs used in advertising campaigns and public relations. He works with each department to create artwork, images, and informational graphics that clearly communicate the importance and impact of the Idaho STEM AC. Jonathon received a BA in Advertising Design from Boise State University and has over 20 years of experience as an artist and art director working on regional, national, and international marketing campaigns and publications.
Halle, a native of Las Vegas, has been a resident of Boise for the past three years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and brings with her extensive experience in administrative and supportive roles. In 2023, she became a part of the STEM Action Center, driven by her commitment to fostering opportunities for Idaho educators and industry partners in STEM fields, thereby paving the way for a prosperous future for the state. In the summer she loves to ride bikes on the greenbelt and float the river.
Alayna, a dedicated professional with a Bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University, has championed learning and growth in various education roles across Washington and Idaho. With experience in teaching STEM education in public schools, private institutions and non-profits, she now drives initiatives at Idaho’s STEM Action Center, fostering opportunities for educators and industry partners. Alayna’s passion lies in creating inclusive learning experiences that inspire curiosity and collaboration. Beyond work, she enjoys time with loved ones, the outdoors, and a good book.