Dr. Marisa Barilka is an educational leader, engineer, and curriculum innovator whose work focuses on expanding access to high-quality STEM learning opportunities. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership and combines technical expertise with systems-level educational leadership to design and implement impactful programs for students and educators. Throughout her career, she has developed STEM initiatives and learning experiences for diverse educational settings, led the creation of multiple STEM competitions and mentorship opportunities, secured grant funding to support innovation, and designed comprehensive K–12 STEM programming. Dr. Barilka regularly provides professional development on topics including artificial intelligence in education, STEM program development, and emerging instructional practices that prepare students for future careers.