UM Students

When you support spectrUM, you are also supporting college students at the University of Montana.

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spectrUM hires UM students to serve as educators, and they share their love of science with students across Montana. Hear from a few of our previous educators about their time at spectrUM below.

Amanda Lockwood

Amanda Lockwood
Technical Food Safety Specialist
Hillsboro, OR

“My time at spectrUM helped me appreciate how many different careers there are in the sciences. I've definitely used skills I learned at spectrUM while working in the food industry. Being able to explain scientific concepts has helped a lot when explaining why certain regulations are in place.”

Ashely Bielawski
Research Assistant and Lab Manager
Missoula, MT

“I began working at spectrUM as an educator while pursuing a degree in physics. The first day that I walked into the museum, I felt drawn to the Brain Zone exhibits - I had never considered neuroscience as a career! Today I have a Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, and am applying to graduate programs in the same field. I give spectrUM a large amount of credit for both helping me find my career path as well as helping me grow my love for science outreach.“

Ashley Bielawski

Emily Schindeldecker

Emily Schindeldecker
Client Care Specialist
Missoula, MT

“Working in spectrUM's Brain Lab in high school inspired me pursue my bachelor's degree in psychology. While in college, I worked at spectrUM doing summer camps and outreach, which helped guide me into developmental research. I hope to one day work as a school psychologist, and my time at spectrUM helped me find my way on this path.”

Jodie-Lee Hostetler
Imaging Specialist at Cranial Technologies
Leesburg, VA

“Since I was a teenager, I fell in love with the mission of spectrUM (going to the downtown location as a student!). spectrUM is the perfect blend of wonder and imagination all wrapped up in the pursuit of exploring science. It is here one can discover the exciting world of science through relationships, research, and connection.”

Jodie-Lee Hostetler

Kristian Stipe 

Kristian Stipe
Chief Executive Officer of Boys and Girls Club
Missoula, MT

“While at spectrUM, I got the opportunity to come up with fun new experiments behind the discovery bench and in the maker space, including giant bubbles, plastic from cornstarch, and a vast array of fun chemistry experiments. This experience really sparked my passion of working with youth and directly influenced my career path.”

Melissa Karrer
Middle School Science Teacher
Venice, FL

“spectrUM is still, by far, the best place I have ever worked at! Not only was I able to begin to truly discover my passion for teaching while I was there, but I also made lifelong friends who I still consider my spectrUM family. Bringing science to the reservations through the SciNation program is one of my most inspiring memories.”

Melissa Karrer

Molly Williams

Molly Williams
Office Assistant at a Wealth Management Firm
Boston, MA

“As someone who thrives in a learning environment, I can't believe how special it was to learn something new with every shift. How cool is it that we worked with liquid nitrogen?!”

Nick Costa
Certified Athletic Trainer
Freeburg, IL

spectrUM was a great place to work while I was in my undergrad. It was great to take what I was learning in the classroom and apply it with the patrons coming into the museum. In return spectrUM also gave me hands on experiences to take back into the classroom.”

Nick Cota

Sara Feilzer

Sara Feilzer
Education Director at Exploration Works
Helena, MT

“Being a part of the spectrUM family showed me that if my passion was to teach science and share all of the amazing things that this world has to offer, what better place to do that than at a hands-on science center? I had never even thought about working at a science center as a career until I worked at spectrUM through college and realized that what I was already having so much fun doing, I could do for my career, so I did!”

Sarah Emmal
State of Alaska Migrant Education Program Manager
Juneau, AK

“I worked for spectrUM while I was working on my Elementary Education Bachelor's degree. It was a very enriching experience to be able to see the wonder and excitement in children's faces while learning about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).”

Sarah Emmal

Sylvia Borstad

Sylvia Borstad
Communications Specialist
Missoula, MT

“spectrUM is a fun, inquisitive, and creativity-inducing environment for all ages. Whether you’re a parent learning what peaks your child’s interest, or learning new scientific information, spectrUM is a space for everyone. If you’re searching for hands on, attentive activities to guide our youth’s intellectual growth and maturation, I could only applaud others to donate and support this organization.”

Tiffany Matthews
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Kalispell, MT

"I look back fondly on my time as a science educator for spectrUM. spectrUM helped me solidify my love for helping others and for science. It also impacted how I feel about sharing science with others and helped me to realize my passion for education."

Tiffany Matthews