Staff Leadership

As CEO since March 2023, Frank Steslow brings a wealth of non-profit leadership experience. Over the past 30 years, mostly in the cultural sector, Frank has led several science-based, non-profit organizations through transition and growth. He was thrilled to join SSPI as its first Chief Executive Officer, succeeding the organizations long time Executive Director, Richard Bowdon. In this role, Frank works with the Board of Trustees, alumni, and staff to strengthen and expand SSPI’s existing programs, create new programs and expand the impact and reach of the organization, especially to students who may not have been aware or had the means to participate in the program previously.

Frank earned a BS in Microbiology from Penn State, and a MS in Public Health from University of South Florida. Frank currently resides with his wife in Maine. If he’s not working, you can find him hiking, boating, or working on home renovation projects.

An effective leader with extensive financial and administrative expertise in the non-profit arena, Amy Gillette joined SSPI in 2023 as the institution’s Chief Administrative Officer. In this role, she leads SSPI’s finance, human resources, information technology, external affairs, and administrative functions, as well as oversees the institution’s risk management. Before coming to SSPI, Amy spent 14 years in non-profit leadership, most recently as the CFO of a cultural organization.

Amy graduated with a BS in accounting, a B.S in economics, and a MS in taxation from the University of Central Florida. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida. Amy currently resides in South Florida with her husband and their two children. In her free time, she loves to travel and scuba dive, and has been to more than 30 countries.

Rachael joined SSPI in early 2024 as the Director of Business Administration. In this role, she will provide cross-departmental administrative and operational support to the organization, including compliance, policies, and procedures, assisting with program needs and logistics, writing grants, and more. Rachael brings a wide range of experience, having worked at several non-profits, co-founding and running a start-up, and most recently working for a large corporation in the travel industry.

Rachael graduated with a BS in Marketing from the University of Florida and earned an MBA from the University of Miami. Rachael currently resides in South Florida with her husband, their three children and dog. In her free time, and after her children’s activities, she loves traveling, boating, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Amy Belote has been with SSPI since May 2011, and she is currently the VP of Program Operations. In this role, she oversees admissions, enrollment, and campus logistics, as well as assisting with faculty hiring. Previously, Amy worked as a research project manager at Johns Hopkins.

Amy holds a Master of Health Science degree in Health Policy and Administration from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Amy currently resides in Cary, North Carolina and has three children. You can find her practicing yoga, meditating or wild swimming when she’s not working.

Laura Corley has been involved with SSPI since 2017 as a Site Director, Campus Manager, and operations consultant, and joined full time in June 2024 as the Senior Director of Program Operations. Laura holds a BSE in Secondary Education – Physical Science from East Texas Baptist University and an MEd in Educational Leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. Her professional background includes 13 years as a high school chemistry educator and teacher leader; medical education staff roles at Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, and Carle Illinois College of Medicine; and nonprofit workforce development.

In her current role, she will be responsible for logistics and business operations for SSPI’s summer programs. When she’s not troubleshooting, she will review and recommend process changes to improve and streamline program operations for continued growth, assist with faculty recruiting and hiring, and provide support as needed to execute the mission of SSP.

Laura lives in the Greater Houston area in Texas with a Cocker Spaniel named Annie, and enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, relaxing in the pool, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Courtney Hill joined SSPI in September 2023 as the Director of Admissions, where she leads and manages all aspects of the admissions process with a focus on access and equity– from developing admissions policies and application materials to counseling prospective participants through the process. Prior to joining the team, Courtney worked as the Assistant Director of Admission at Harvey Mudd College.

Having been a first-generation, low-income college student from a rural background, Courtney’s experiences of discovering STEM education and research were transformative for her, and she remains deeply interested in research in scientific and social fields. She graduated with a BS in Biology from Duke University and an MA in Education from Louisiana State University. She lives in Omaha, Nebraska and primarily spends her free time attending rock concerts, running, and reading classics.

Christin Latus has been involved with SSPI since 2020, when she started as a Site Director for the summer programs. In 2023, she joined the team full-time as Director of Residence Life. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the Site Directors and interfacing with host campuses. Prior to joining SSPI, Christin taught high school biology for 6 years.

Christin received a BS in Biology and a MEd In Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Tyler. Christin currently resides in Tyler, Texas. She has a passion for travel and aspires to watch a baseball game in every MLB stadium.

Dr. Corcoran is the Vice President of Research and Evaluation at SSP International, Inc. (SSPI). Previously she worked at Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, the University College Dublin (UCD), the University of Nottingham, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston). She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University. She was an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. She was an Associate Professor of Education at the School of Education, UCD. She was Full Professor, Chair in Education, at the University of Nottingham. She was Full Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) in the School of Public Health. Dr. Corcoran is a chartered psychologist (CPsychol), was named a Fellow (FBPsS) of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS). She is the recipient of numerous scholarships, grants and awards.
As the principal investigator, she has designed and led a series of multiyear, multisite projects—funded by the U.S. Department of Education and foundations—focusing on educational interventions and the mechanisms by which they have their impact on social, psychological and academic outcomes. Her research has been published through peer-reviewed articles, reports and books. She is Co-Chair of the Campbell Collaboration Education Coordinating Group (ECG). She was the Chair (elected) of the American Educational Research Association’s social and emotional learning special interest group, appointed to the Government cross-Whitehall What Works Trial Advice Panel, and has advised the OECD, Cabinet Office and the World Bank Education Global Practice. She lives in Texas. She enjoys spending time with family and engaging in physical activity.

Dr. Mike Manzella has been involved with SSPI since 2021, first developing the Bacterial Genomics program and later spending two years as an Academic Director. Mike joined the team full-time in September 2023 as the Vice President of Academic Affairs. He is responsible for diversifying faculty for both existing and new programs and ensuring that quality is maintained as SSPI grows its programs. Additionally, Mike will help to identify new university partners, faculty, and program areas. Mike also serves on the Admissions Committee. Prior to joining the team, Mike ran an immersive course-based undergraduate research lab at Indiana University.

Mike holds a BS in Biotechnology from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Michigan State University. He resides in Bloomington, Indiana. On evenings and weekends, you can find him gardening, playing video games, or playing table top role-playing games.

Nico Adams joined SSPI in July 2024 as the Director of Astrophysics. He recently completed a PhD in astrophysics at the University of Minnesota, where he specialized in studying star-forming galaxies using citizen science and machine learning techniques. Nico also has a background in running and coordinating outreach programs, including the University of Minnesota’s Universe in the Park program, which provides free sky tours and telescope observations in parks across Minnesota.

In his current role, Nico oversees and curates the astrophysics curriculum, identifies and recruits new faculty and guest speakers, and generally ensures that the Summer Science Program’s astrophysics programs maintain their quality as the organization expands.

Nico currently lives in Minneapolis with his partner and their cat Connie. He enjoys cooking elaborate meals with friends, traveling to state/national parks, and finding new coffee shops around the Twin Cities.

Emily Hawes has been involved with SSPI since 2018, when she served as a Teaching Assistant and Residential Mentor for the Biochemistry program at Purdue. She returned in 2019 to serve as a Teaching Assistant and Residential Mentor at UCSD and in 2024 to serve as a Site Director at New Mexico State University. In 2024, Emily joined the team full-time in her current role as Director of Biochemistry. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing and curating the Biochemistry program, recruiting academic faculty and guest speakers, and generally maintaining the quality of the Biochemistry program as SSPI expands.

Emily holds a BS in Biochemistry from Purdue University and a PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics from Vanderbilt University. Emily is currently lives in Wyoming with her husband and two dogs. In her free time, you can find Emily exploring new cities or hiking trails, reading a good book, or playing a board game.

Emaly joined SSPI in early 2025. Emaly brings her knowledge of genomic research, interest to find creative solutions to complex problems, and experience in scientific education program development to the team. Emaly earned her BS in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from Purdue University in 2012 and her PhD in Genetics and Genomics from The University of Connecticut in 2019.

She currently resides in coastal Maine and enjoys spending free time outdoors with her dog Elvira. Her favorite hobbies include knitting, hunting for mushrooms, kayaking, and learning to cook authentic cuisines.

Katherine Hougland joined the team in 2018 as the Alumni Relations and Development Manager. In 2023, she was promoted to VP of External Affairs. In her current role, she is responsible for alumni engagement, donor relationships, and corporate and foundation giving. Katherine also oversees SSPI’s communications strategy and social media and SSP Connect, a program that pairs the Summer Science Program’s most recent participants with alumni mentors.

Katherine has a BS in Non-Profit Arts Management from Northern Arizona University and a MALA in Western Literature from St. John’s College. She lives in Southern Arizona with her husband and their children. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and exploring the southwest landscapes around her home. You’ll also often find her curled up with a book or sitting at her sewing machine quilting.

Kristen Dominguez joined SSPI in 2015 as the Alumni Relations and Development Associate. In her current role, she is responsible for alumni communications, events, SSP connect mentoring program and working with the Alumni Relations committees. Raised in a cultural mecca of the arts, Kristen pursued an undergrad degree in Arts Management. She took her love of nonprofit marketing and fundraising to the next level with a Masters’s Degree in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy.

Kristen is from the Berkshires, MA, where winter is too long and summer too short. When Kristen isn’t planning the next alumni activity, she’s teaching herself to cook complex recipes, vacationing on the beach with her son and husband, reading, and trying to figure out new hobbies that keep her off social media.