Currently serving as Director of Innovation and Learning at Impression 5 Science Center, Micaela started as a volunteer greeter at Impression 5 as a teen. Her first paid position at Impression 5 was store clerk, and her dedication for Impression 5’s mission began with each guest interaction. Micaela built her career in informal education at Impression 5 by first contributing to the curriculum and instruction of dynamic hands-on science directly to youth. She later became Education Director where Scientific Weekends, Big Science Lessons, and events like LEGOPalooza were innovated. Micaela’s current role at Impression 5 as Director of Innovation and Learning is to move the mission forward in all aspects of operations, education, exhibits and strategic planning. Micaela is the most proud in her contributions to the Play, Create, Challenge vision of the science center and development of exhibits like MI Nature, First Impression Room, FLOW, and SMASH!. She currently leads the Youth Action Council at Impression 5, and is dedicated to viewing and moving STEM education forward with an equity lens and to supporting youth empowerment.She bleeds green and white as she attended Michigan State University where she majored in Education. Micaela is a proud immigrant to the United States. She is a daughter, wife and mother who resides in the city of Lansing. She stands firmly in the belief that – “at the end of the day we can endure much more than we think we can” – famously spoken by Frida Kahlo.