TEAM MEMBERS

Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience teaching middle and high school science in the Anne Arundel County Public School System (AACPS). She developed a passion for STEM while teaching at Old Mill Middle South, a STEM magnet school. During her 13 years at AACPS, Melissa became a National Board-Certified science teacher and helped to develop science curricula for AACPS. Having joined LETS GO in May 2022, she is developing new STEM curricula for middle to early high school students and delivering STEM programming in Anne Arundel County for grades K-9. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mary Washington University and a Master degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College. She is also an avid equestrian. She was born and raised in Northern New Jersey.

Kandace Shields is a native born of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia Area. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Virginia Polytechnic State and University with a minor in Chemistry. Upon graduation she worked for three years in the biopharmaceutical field as a Microbiologist, helping to ensure environment sterility and the quality of the manufacturing process of pharmaceuticals. Called to teaching, as she spent many childhood years in her mothers and grandmother's classrooms, she went back to school to receive an M ed. in Elementary Education with a certification and license in Elementary Montessori 6-12 years. She has taught Lower Elementary Montessori for three years within the DC Public School system and now recently joins the LETS GO Boys and Girls Team, bridging her background in Science and Education. She is passionate about exposing young children to STEM as this work incites the imagination and creativity of children and develops the whole child (both academically and socially).

Carnell Arrington joined the LETS GO team in 2021. Inspired by his mother, an educator for over 35 years, the Baltimore-native started his career as an elementary teacher in the Baltimore City Public School System in 2007. In his 11 years of service with BCPSS, Carnell held multiple titles including Mentor Teacher, Staff Developer, School and Family Council Chair, and PBIS Committee Chair. In 2011, Carnell was recognized for his efforts as the Teacher of the Year for Margaret Brent Elementary School. In the education field, Carnell has a proven track record of improving student math scores through innovative and restorative practices. In 2018, Carnell transition into higher education as a Division I Basketball Coach at Coppin State University. He has a proven ability to connect and build genuine relationships with a diverse group of people. Carnell received his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Morgan State University with a minor in Entrepreneurship.

Hannah (Wroton) Ross joined the LETS GO team in 2021 to launch the LETS GO Career Catalyst Internship Program and Alumni Connection (LAC) project. She previously served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with LETS GO, helping to build organizational capacity. She began her career in restoration ecology, teaching students about conservation and restoration practices and assisting with ecological research. Four years later, she combined her lifelong passion for mentorship and student development with her love of STEM at LETS GO. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Geology from the University of Colorado, graduating with Academic Distinction.

VaShaun is one of the first LETS GO STEM Scholars. He was inspired by a LETS GO presentation on neutral buoyancy. He later joined LETS GO as a Jr. STEM Assistant. He was promoted to Assistant Instructor in Washington, DC where he coached the FBR Nation Robotics Kings and Queens FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics team at the FBR Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington. The team is the first LETS GO robotics team from Washington, DC, to participate in an FLL tournament—a milestone for LETS GO and VaShaun. Since joining LETS GO, VaShaun has expanded his responsibilities to include program data management for the entire organization and program support for the Washington, DC and Anne Arundel County regions. Additionally, he has become a certified observer for The PEAR Institute: Partnerships in Education and Resilience at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital. The certification demonstrates his understanding of the dimensions of success required for students to excel in informal STEM learning environments.

Born to Korean parents and raised as a third culture kid in Kenya, J-Min's upbringing was a mosaic of diverse experiences. With extensive years spent abroad, including in South Korea, and later immigrating to the USA, coupled with her travels to 30 countries, she gained a profound understanding of the impact of poverty on youth and the important role of quality education. Having personally witnessed the stark realities of poverty and the accompanying barriers, J-Min's experiences ignited a lifelong passion within her to challenge these obstacles and promote a global perspective. Since then, she has been driven by a determination to break barriers of poverty, cultural stereotypes, and perceived biases. Drawing from her background and fueled by her experiences, J-Min co-founded a non-profit organization and currently serves as the president of the board of directors for Getaway Growth, a young organization dedicated to providing transformative international educational travel experiences for underserved youth. A recent graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, J-Min was eager to merge her expertise and passion to empower even more students, which particularly drew her to Let’s Go Girls and Boys. J-Min's interest in STEM has been a constant in her life, with science and technology serving as her favorite pillars within the discipline. This interest is not only reflected in her academic pursuits but also in her hobbies and extracurricular activities, underscoring her dedication to fostering inclusivity and opportunity in these areas. Following her recent experience with Getaway Growth’s Summer Intercultural Competence and Service Learning Trip, where she witnessed alarming levels of ocean pollution during a beach cleanup, J-Min was inspired to pursue her long-held goal of obtaining her scuba diving certification. Now equipped with this skill, she is supporting community-driven initiatives focused on ocean conservancy and sustainability efforts. Additionally, J-Min is an active member of the Planetary Society, advocating for space exploration and staying abreast of developments in the field. Her diverse experiences also extend to her professional background, where she has served as a Fitness Professional and worked with the US Non-Commissioned Officers Association, fostering partnerships between the US Military, Non-Commissioned Officers Association, and South Korea. In 2017, in collaboration with Africa Insight, J-Min also produced the first Seoul African Fashion Show, aiming to challenge stereotypes and change perceptions around Africa in Korea. As a hobby, she also facilitated community-building events for foreigners and expatriates in Korea, fostering connections between diverse communities. With her experience in working with diverse groups and her cross-cultural community development expertise, J-Min is excited to make STEM education accessible to all students, firmly believing that every student deserves opportunities to become future leaders and global citizens of tomorrow.

Eric Warshawsky joined the LETS GO team in 2024 under the Maryland Year of Service program as a Program Coordinator. He has a passion for both education and STEM, having previously worked as an English teacher and a web developer. After graduating from the University of Vermont, Eric worked with an afterschool English program in Japan. In this program, he independently taught classes for students ranging from elementary to high school. He joined the Peace Corps, serving as a Youth in Development volunteer in Southern Thailand. During this time, Eric taught English as well as worked with local government and health officials to plan and facilitate programs to meet the needs of the community. After coming home, Eric worked with a mortgage company as a Full-Stack Web Developer. He developed web-based tools to support the company. Three years later, he was eager to return to work that more directly made a positive impact in the community, and is currently working to support the afterschool First Lego League program.

Somtochukwu (Somto) Uche-Nnamani is a program coordinator intern at LET’S GO Boys and Girls from the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation. Somto is currently a student at Towson University. With an A.S degree in Information technology from Prince George’s Community College, and foundational knowledge in podcast production and management, Somto will be assisting LET’S GO with planning and organizing programs for Maryland Science Olympiad (MSO), Teen Science Café (TSC) and LET’S GO’s Let's Grow Together Podcast.