Alysha is an El Paso native and chooses to raise her family here because she loves the strength and diversity of the community. Alysha received her Executive MBA from UTEP and holds a BA in Anthropology with a minor in Biology.

Alysha believes that all in El Paso, especially the youth, should have equal experiences and opportunities to accomplish their dreams through growing STEAM activities in the region, regardless of their background, socio-economic status, or self-identity. With over 12 years of community service and partnership experience that encompasses over 8 years of management and leadership experience, she leads Insights in the right direction to empower our community through STEAM education.

Alfred is a proud husband and son, originally from the old West-Texas town of El Paso. He joined the INSIGHTS Science and Discovery team in the fall of 2021. He has spent almost half of his life living and working abroad as a facilitator of science learning, instructional coach and educational consultant in Egypt, Venezuela, China and Vietnam.After obtaining his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Biology and Science Education, he worked with the Directorate of Environment (DOE) at Fort Bliss/White Sands Missile Range as a Research Field Biologist. His professional interests, for both students and colleagues, lie in facilitating personalized learning experiences around interdisciplinary contexts, as well as leading intentional feedback and reflection sessions for continued growth and learning.

An El Paso native now returning home, Brenda Trinidad will be coordinating the development of a holistic Space Education and Experience portfolio for Insights, of which the annual El Paso Space Festival will be the flagship event. The Space Festival is held each Fall and works to celebrate space adventure and give voice to the socio-cultural dimension of space exploration in tandem with STEAM educational programming. Brenda’s most recent training in the Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology compliments her 25+yrs experience in higher education and informal science education. Her ongoing research focuses on space ethnography, socio-cultural dimensions of space exploration and education, and the role of art and storytelling in astronomy education through contemplative pedagogy.

Jennifer joined the Insights team in October 2020 after graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso with her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She has dedicated herself to STEAM education by promoting new ideas and new information to students while working as an assistant instructor.  She’s taken her dedication outside the classroom by leading a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project centered around cost-effective research in Indonesia. She has brought that knowledge to Insights by leading our Student-led Environmental Stewardship Initiative (SESI), Nerd Night, and Critical Zone projects.

Sue Huffman first joined our Insights team as a dedicated volunteer while pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Secondary Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. After graduating, Sue gained experience teaching in a science classroom, leading an after-school computer coding program, and working with preservice teachers as the Outreach Manager for ADP Math and Science Teachers Academy in the College of Science at UTEP. In addition, Sue continues to write various curriculum for Insights, present professional developments and hands-on STEAM workshops, as well as train facilitators and manage summer programs.

Brandi graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. As an undergraduate, she joined Future Educators of Math and Science (FEMaS) and volunteered with Insights for a pop up Dinosaur exhibit and to put on a “Fiesta de las Ciencias” that brought together numerous UTEP student organizations to bring informal science education to the community. She is excited to use the knowledge she has gained to help further Insights’ work with the community.