Judy Donnelly is retired from Three Rivers Community College where she was professor of physics and technology for 36 years and Program Coordinator for the Laser and Fiber Optic Technology associate degree program. She is a senior member and fellow of OSA and SPIE and has served on outreach and education committees of both societies as well as other national and international STEM education initiatives. Judy was awarded the Educator Award by SPIE (2003) and the OSA Esther Hoffman Beller Medal (2012) for outstanding contributions to education in optical science and engineering. Judy enjoys gardening, knitting, baking bread and answering the very difficult science questions asked by her three grandchildren.

Nancy Magnani started her career in engineering as a senior engineer designing and testing high speed fiber optic systems for a telephone operating company. After relocating to Connecticut, Nancy transitioned to a career in education. As a Science Specialist/Grant Facilitator for a regional education service center, Nancy provided science professional development to teachers and wrote and facilitated STEM grants programs for 4th grade through high school students throughout eastern Connecticut. Grant programs included energy, robotics and collaborating with Judy Donnelly on optics and photonics. Nancy currently is with the Sumner School district, Sumner, WA working with middle school science students, facilitates science club and judges STEM Fair projects at the school, district and state levels. She is a member of National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) and a senior member of both OSA and SPIE.