Kevin Giovanetti
Kevin Giovanetti is a professor in the dept. of Physics at JMU. He has been conducting research in Particle and Nuclear physics for over 20 years and is currently actively participating in experiments at Jefferson lab and Fermi lab. Recently his interest in robotics have prompted him to join other faculty in developing a broad spectrum of courses related to the fast developing field of robotics.
Seán is an assistant professor in Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication. He teaches courses in digital media, community engagement, and writing studies.
Fred Briggs
Fred Briggs is a successful technology entrepreneur who has run multiple startups. Fred has always had a passion for aviation and over the years he has flown hang gliders, ultralights and he holds a private pilot’s license. His passion for aviation and technology collided with the drone industry which is where he is currently working to develop new technologies.
Audrey Barnes
Audrey Barnes is a designer, educator, maker and instigator. She is Assistant Professor and Area Head of Industrial Design (ID) at JMU. Audrey teaches students to tackle complex problems by seeking inspiration in unexpected places, collaborating with diverse partners and taking risks. As a practitioner, Audrey works with clients ranging from start-ups to multi-national corporations to innovate solutions at the intersection of business, culture and the environment. Audrey holds a Master of ID degree from RISD and a Bachelor of ID degree from NC State. You can often find her covered in sawdust in the wood shop or playing drums with her band The Hook & Bullet.
Patrice Ludwig
Patrice Ludwig’s formal training is in conservation and population ecology from James Madison University and the University of Virginia, but she regularly ventures into concepts that are tangentially related, such as using artificial substrates to restore oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay. Patrice focuses much of her teaching on facilitating student development of critical and creative thinking by designing opportunities for students to work in teams both within and across disciplines. She is a self-described educational entrepreneur and “door-opener”. When she isn’t juggling projects, she is juggling 3 daughters and her husband.
Nick Swayne
Nick Swayne serves as the Director three programs at James Madison University – External Relations for the College of Education, 4-Virginia, and the Virginia-DC FIRST LEGO League. Since 2007, Nick has coordinated professional development training to upper elementary, middle, and high school teachers through $2 million in SCHEV sponsored work that integrated LEGO robotics into classroom science, math, and literacy lessons. He has championed the creation of the Harrisonburg City Schools Governor’s STEM Academy, its Visual and Performing Arts Academy, and currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Harrisonburg City School Board. He is currently working on a number of projects through 4-Virginia that include expanding dual-enrollment computer science courses to area high schools, innovations in instructional technology, collaborative research, course sharing, degree completion, course redesign, and JMU X-Labs.
Bo Pollett is an aerospace engineer with 10 years experience in structures design, software development, and systems integration. He has worked with many prime suppliers to the US Military, including Northrup Grumman, Sikorsky, DARPA, and Aurora Flight Sciences. Mr. Pollett currently runs his own composite materials design and fabrication business, “Theta Composites”, where he designs and builds custom solutions for the military and commercial drone markets. In his personal time Bo can be found supporting the maker community at Nova Labs in northern Virginia. He is an avid volunteer and educator, hosting youth robotics classes at Nova Labs as well as working on educational products for customers like Make Magazine.