STS Core Team
Dr. David Tomblin (he/him/his)
Director | dtomblin@umd.edu
David Tomblin is a senior lecturer with appointment in the A. James Clark School of Engineering. He has served as director of Science, Technology and Society since 2013 and has taught at the University of Maryland since 2009. He is a Distinguished Fearless Faculty Fellow with the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a member of the Engineering Education Research Group.
Tomblin earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Biology from Virginia Tech. He earned a doctorate in science and technology studies from Virginia Tech in 2009. His research focus on the governance of and public engagement with emerging technologies.
Tomblin works with a consortium of universities, science museums and nonprofits called Expert and Citizen Assessment of Technology (or ECAST) to develop public-engagement exercises for government agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (or NASA), the Department of Energy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or NOAA). Recent projects have centered on asteroid exploration, nuclear energy, autonomous vehicles and geoengineering.
Dr. Nicole Mogul (she/her/hers)
Assistant Director | nmogul@umd.edu
Nicole Mogul is a senior lecturer in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park, where she is also the assistant director of the Science, Technology and Society Scholars program.
Previously, she was adjunct professor in the Ph.D. program of Science and Technology Studies at Virginia Tech, National Capital Region Campus.
At UMD, she teaches courses in engineering ethics, science and technology studies, science communication, sustainability, and infrastructure and society. Her scholarship includes innovations in teaching science and technology studies and engineering ethics to undergraduates, and reframing science and technical communication as a core responsibility of effective scientists and engineers.
In classes, students practice ethical reasoning and critical thinking about science and technology (past, present and future), using a variety of techniques, including case studies, ethical frameworks, design thinking, rhetoric, storytelling, acting and improvisation.
Mogul has presented research at conferences of the American Society for Engineering Education, the Society for the Social Studies of Science (or 4S), and the Engineering and Liberal Arts Symposium. She is a Distinguished Fearless Faculty Fellow with UMD’s Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a member of the Engineering Education Research Group.
Dr. Timothy Reedy (he/him/his)
Instructor | tdreedy@umd.edu
Timothy Reedy is a lecturer in the University of Maryland’s Science, Technology and Society program and teaches several courses in the Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy (STEP) minor. Reedy earned his B.S. in Biology and Education from the University of Missouri, M.S. in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, and more recently, his Ph.D. in International Education Policy from the University of Maryland.
He helps students critically explore the social, political, and cultural dimensions of science and engineering. His teaching challenges students to consider the broader implications of technological innovation, encouraging them to reflect on responsibility, power, and impact in their design and decision-making processes.
Christine Alexander (she/her/hers)
Instructor | cealex@umd.edu
Christine Alexander combines her facilitation skills and passion for human development to create purpose driven experiences for groups of all ages and stages. Before earning her M.A. in Teacher Education and Professional Development from the University of Maryland, she worked as a Teaching Artist in schools, museums, and theaters. Her training includes 7 years of applied improvisation for educational contexts (Smithsonian Associates), and two years of Gestalt Theatre training for educators (Gestalt Theatre Association), along with coursework in Design Thinking.
Christine now facilitates the creative development of university students and faculty as a Lecturer and professional development provider in the Science, Technology, and Society program of College Park Scholars and the A. James Clark School of Engineering. Christine teaches ENES200: Technology and Consequences: Engineering, Ethics, and Humanity, as well as the fall and spring colloquia for 1st year STS scholars.
Roan Parrish (she/her/hers)
Instructor | roanp@umd.edu
Roan Parrish is a lecturer in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. She has previously taught in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech as well as the Science, Technology, and Society program at Tufts University. Parrish has earned a B.S. in Neuroscience, a B.S. in Psychology, and an M.S. in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech. She is completing her Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech.
Parrish’s research interests involve the history of medicine, the history of computing, and labor. Her dissertation, “Constructing an Electronic Medical Record,” used Andrew Abbott’s system of professions to analyze how both the material conditions of technology and the structure of knowledge influenced the division of labor in clinical settings. Her project focused on the iterative design process and the involvement of all stakeholders, emphasizing the roles of both engineers and medical professionals.
Parrish received the 2023 Joan Cahalin Robinson Prize from the Society for the History of Technology for her presentation of her dissertation research.
Dr. Darren Pierre (he/him/his)
Instructor, Global Engineering Leadership Minor Advisor | dpierre@umd.edu
Dr. Darren Pierre’s teaching is focused on college student development, student affairs profession, and leadership theories. He carries years of experience as a university administrator, a leader within the field of higher education, and a contributor to many entity groups affiliated with higher education/student affairs. Dr. Pierre has authored a book, book chapters, and journal articles focused on leadership and identity development. He has spoken nationally on the ideals of leadership, integrity, and authenticity. He received his master’s in Higher Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland-College Park and his PhD in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.
Christina Yang (she/her/hers)
Administrative Coordinator | cyang227@umd.edu
Christina (she/her/hers) is the Administrative Coordinator for Science, Technology and Society (STS) programs in the A. James Clark School of Engineering. She provides student, curriculum, and logistical support to the STS Scholars program, the Engineering Ethics program, and the Office of Global Engineering Leadership.
She graduated from UMD in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Neuroscience and Disability Studies. Before joining STS, she was an Intake Specialist with the DORS Intake Unit at CTCI UMD, where she helped high school and college students with disabilities in Maryland apply for post-secondary transition services. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Equity at the University of Maryland.
In her free time, she also enjoys drawing, baking, and exploring DC.
STS Instructors & Program Associates
Dr. Kuan-Hung Lo
Program Associate | khlo@umd.edu
Kuan-Hung Lo was previously a lecturer in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. Before this appointment, he taught in the Department of Science, Technology and Society at Virginia Tech. Lo earned an M.A. in Gender Studies from Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan, and both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Science, Technology and Society from Virginia Tech. He received a Government Scholarships for Study Abroad (GSSA) from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education in 2012.
Lo’s research interests include robots in everyday life, ethics in robotics and artificial intelligence, and gender issues in technology. His dissertation, “Laboratorization of Everyday Life: Adaptations among Robots, Laboratory, and Society,” proposes an analytical framework, the Laboratorization of Everyday Life, in order to more clearly examine the mutual adaptations between robotics laboratories and wider society. His research especially focuses on the negotiations between material environments, values, ethics and robot design.