About.Our team consists of experienced researchers, educators, and administrators with diverse expertise in engineering education, higher education, teaching and learning, culturally responsive pedagogy, character education, and comparative philosophy.
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Our Team
Mags Blackie
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Qin Zhu
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Michele Deramo
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Roel Snieder
Curriculum Developer, Workshop Facilitator & Coach Roel Snieder holds the W.M. Keck Distinguished Chair of Professional Development Education at the Colorado School of Mines. He is a transformational coach, speaker, and teacher. He received in 1984 a Masters degree in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics from Princeton University, and in 1987 a PhD in seismology from Utrecht University. In 2023 Roel received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Colorado School of Mines Board of Trustees. From 2000-2014 he was a firefighter in Genesee Fire Rescue where he served for two years as Fire Chief.
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Cortney Holles
Curriculum Developer & Workshop Facilitator Cortney Holles is a Teaching Professor in Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) at the Colorado School of Mines. She earned her master’s degree in English in 2003 and came to Mines in the Fall of 2004 to teach Nature and Human Values. She has enjoyed working with Mines students to improve their communication skills and explore the impacts of the natural world on human behavior and society ever since.
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Cynthia James
Curriculum Developer & Workshop Facilitator Cynthia James is an Emotional Integration Leadership Coach, speaker, performing artist, and multiple award-winning author. Her books include I Choose Me: The Art of Being a Phenomenally Successful Woman at Home and at Work (3x #1 Amazon Bestseller), What Will Set You Free?, Revealing Your Extraordinary Essence, Does My Voice Matter? A Journey of Self-Discovery, Authenticity and Empowerment, and her latest award-winning book The Kingdom of Magic and Mystery. Cynthia’s Advanced Awareness and Clarity Coaching offers depth, focus, and results for organizations and high-level business leaders. She has served as guest faculty at the Colorado School of Mines, supporting the Science and Spirituality curriculum, and is a member of the Teaching With Heart faculty team under a Templeton grant. Cynthia holds two Master’s Degrees: one in Consciousness Studies from the Holmes Institute—where she was honored as Distinguished Alumni—and another in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.
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Alexis Elder
Research Consultant Dr. Elder is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at UMD. She works in Ethics, Social Philosophy, Metaphysics (especially social ontology), Philosophy of Technology, and Moral Psychology. She tends to draw on ancient philosophy - primarily Chinese and Greek - in order to think about current problems. Teaching interests include a variety of courses in applied ethics, where she enjoys working with students to explore the many ways philosophical issues can crop up in practical concerns.
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Alexandra Bejarano
Researcher Alexa Bejarano is a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama. She received her Ph.D. in Computer Science at the Colorado School of Mines. Her research focuses on human-robot interaction, robot identity and ethics, and compassion in STEM education.
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Theo Lazzari
Program Coordinator and Research Assistant Theo Lazzari is a PhD student in the Science, Technology, and Society department as well as an author. Theo did his undergraduate work in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Russian and Eurasian Studies, and German at Colgate University. He just released his first poetry book, Ele-Mental through Spinning Monkey Press. In his spare time, he likes to go on walks with his dog Bex, read, write, and spend time with friends.
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