Pittsburgh, PA, Release: September 19, 2019. For Immediate Release

ASSET STEM Education today announced that Dr. Cynthia Pulkowski, the organization’s Executive Director, has decided to retire effective November 30, 2019. Sarah Toulouse will serve as Executive Director of the organization upon Dr. Pulkowski’s retirement.

Dr. Pulkowski has served in her current role since May 2011, and prior to that, served for five years, first as Manager of Science It’s Elementary program and Director of Programs where she oversaw the organization’s growth from Southwestern PA to a State-wide initiative. Dr. Pulkowski was instrumental in developing and delivering the prestigious Investing in Innovation grant from the US Department of Education from 2010 through 2015

During Dr. Pulkowski’s tenure as Executive Director, she played a critical role in helping the organization to grow from being a state-based entity to a national provider of STEM materials and professional learning services. In the process, she served as a champion for establishing new partnerships and supportive roles with education organizations, such as, Pennsylvania STEM Coalition, STEMx, Pittsburgh STEM Ecosystem, 100K-in10, Achieve, SAE Industries, Catalyst Connection, CMU Create Lab, PA Intermediate Units, School Districts, Charter Schools and Out-of-School Programs.

Deborah Spencer, the newly appointed Associate Executive director says of Dr. Pulkowski, “Cynthia has had a passionate vision and commitment to ASSET’s work.  Her efforts to continuously position the organization as a thought leader in STEM education, nationally and locally, have provided the catalyst for ASSET to move forward.  She has modeled for the staff all the traits of 21^st century learning and leading.  I will greatly miss her counsel and insight but will bring her advice and lessons into my own professional career.”

Tim Goetz, President of ASSET Board of Directors stated, “On behalf of the Asset Board of Directors I would like to thank Dr. Pulkowski for her outstanding service and leadership the past 8 years. Her passion for advancing Asset’s mission and her dedication to her staff and to Asset’s clients were obvious and truly appreciated by the Board members. Without doubt her time and contributions have positively affected thousands of students. Dr. Pulkowski will be missed and we wish her the very best for a happy and healthy retirement.”

Joining the organization as the new Executive Director is Sarah Toulouse, who has spent more than 20 years working to advance STEM literacy and education in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. She had been an ASSET Board Member since 2016, and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Bayer USA Foundation, which focused on STEM education and workforce development. She also led Bayer’s Presidential award-winning Making Science Make Sense initiative, promoting hands-on, inquiry-based learning.

At her side will be Deborah Spencer, Associate Executive Director, who has been with ASSET since 2006. Deborah was instrumental in growing the ASSET program alongside the Science It’s Elementary initiative and the U.S. Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation grant. She has been dedicated to the professional learning of educators at ASSET and beyond.  Currently Deborah is pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Duquesne University.

Founded in 1994, ASSET, Inc. is headquartered in Pennsylvania and provides rigorous professional learning services for educators nationally. ASSET’s specialized approach to teacher training, mentoring and project-based learning has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and other leading STEM organizations as a model for achieving student success through excellence in teaching.

Contact info:
Name: Gina DeAngelo, Director of Resource Development
gdeangelo@assetinc.org