Our Team

Our Team

Our dedicated team members all know what it feels like to attempt standup comedy for the first time. We believe in the power of humor to break down barriers and speak from a century of combined outreach experience. What first began as an experimental grassroots program has since grown into a cadre of professionals from the unique crossroads of science communication and comedy.

We’ve distilled years of experience in organizing, recruiting, hosting, and producing live science programming into simple to follow guides and checklists. Advertising? No problem. Nerdy music playlist? We have that too. Whether you are a motivated citizen or science institution, we can help you grow an enthusiastic science community in your hometown.
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David Westmoreland

Role

Executive Director

Biography

David Westmoreland is a Professor Emeritus of Biology at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, where he taught evolutionary biology to undergraduate ...
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Niki Spahich

Role

Co-founder, Board Member

Biography

Niki Spahich co-founded Science Riot in Colorado Springs, CO in 2016. Niki received her PhD in Genetics and Genomics from Duke University. After researching bac...
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Jessie Hanson

Role

Board Member

Biography

Jessie Hanson, B.S., B.A, M.A., MLS (ASCP), the National Program Coordinator, is a professional laboratorian and comedienne, with a background in microbiology r...
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Steve Nash

Role

Board Member

Biography

Dr. Steve Nash is President & CEO of Archaeology Southwest, a non-profit research, outreach, and advocacy firm based in Tucson, Arizona. Steve did his first...
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Amy Pearce

Role

Board Member

Biography

Amy completed her PhD in Neuroscience and a certificate in Science Communication from the Australian National University. During that time, she also volunteered...
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Taylor Soderborg

Role

Board Member

Biography

Taylor Soderborg is an expert in the pediatric microbiome (aka baby poop). She received her MD and PhD degrees from the University of Colorado Anschutz School o...
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Kyle Sanders

Role

Co-founder

Biography

Kyle earned a Bachelor’s in Space Systems Engineering from the Air Force Academy and currently serves as an instructor pilot with eight years of science outreac...
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