Our Team

S2X Board President & CEO – Dr. Alvin L. Smith, is a Manager and former Planetary Protection Engineer working on NASA's Mars Sample Return mission. He has dedicated the last 20 years of his life advocating for STEAM education for children around the world, while serving as a researcher, professor. He has managed several research & development projects for planetary protection, as well as program management for educational training programs, university outreach and curriculum development, and multidisciplinary public and private collaborations. His contributions have been instrumental in planning flight implementation for Mars 2020 (Perseverance rover), Europa Clipper, and the Mars Sample Return campaign, to include planning for the Mars Sample Receiving Facility. Alvin has also served as a researcher in high containment laboratories and as a consultant as a biodefense expert, focusing on the development of vaccines and biodetection capabilities for HIV, human smallpox, Ebola, and other potential biological weapons. His expertise has been leveraged by numerous government agencies including Congress, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and the intelligence community. Alvin holds a Doctorate in Medical Microbiology from Howard University and a Bachelor’ of Science in Biology from Talladega College. He is also a certified Project Management Professional.

S2X Board Vice President - Bryant Baldwin is a Systems Engineer with a strong background in Mechanical Engineering with experience at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His areas of expertise include Thermal Science, Material Science, 3D Modeling & Simulations, Rapid Prototyping, and Project Management. Bryant received his Bachelors and Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Alabama.

 S2X Board Secretary - Rachel Chai is a recent graduate in Civil Engineering with a focus on Environmental Engineering. While attending school, she provided leadership to over 30 student tutors, and organized numerous campus-wide events. She assisted in delivering an advanced education in 5 engineering classes. Her areas of expertise include Wastewater Infrastructure, Geographical Information Systems, Rapid Prototyping, and Project Management. She has competed in several national and local innovation competitions and has placed top 3 in 6 competitions. Rachel received her Bachelors and Masters in Civil Engineering from the University of South Alabama. 

  S2X Board Treasurer-   Jordyn graduated with a BS Materials Science and Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota. She has spent her professional career thus far in the medical device industry, primarily interfacing with polymeric materials and experiences spanning R&D to released product engineering and operations. She has always been passionate about STEAM and literacy outreach, partnering with school districts and organizations to engage youth through college and her professional career. She is driven by curiosity, the desire to learn and share learning with others. 

Strategic and Technical Advisor– Jelani A. Smith is an accomplished Electrical Engineer. He bring over two decades  of engineering and management experience from both the private and government sectors. His technical expertise spans autonomous vehicle control, navigation, and robotics and has been leveraged by General Motors, Freescale Semiconductor Inc., and government agencies. Jelani graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Kettering University with a Masters of Science in Manufacturing Operations.

STEM Advisor/Mentor - Sean  Lueder is an Assistant Teacher in Los Angeles, CA with deep expertise as Technology Intergrationist. He is an avid tinkerer, and spends most of his time building computers, drones, 3D printers, and robots. Mr. Lueder received his B.A. from San Francisco State University in studio art focusing on the conceptual information arts and sculpture. 

 STEM Advisor/Mentor - Carissma McGee is an undergraduate applied physics major, computer science and mathematics double minor at Howard University from Bear, Delaware. With experience at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she is creative and has a passion for problem-solving. As a Karsh STEM Scholar, she is an inaugural researcher for the SPHEREx Mission set to launch in 2024, and this summer, she conducted applied physics research at Harvard University. McGee is also an activist and field organizer in partnership with her local Democratic Black caucus who advocates for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive future. She is the founder of the CNN featured “McConnell vs. Justice” civil rights initiative, has served on the Biden/Harris 2020 presidential campaign in Pennsylvania, and as a congressional intern for the honorable U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware). She looks forward to applying her sense of advocacy and servant leadership as a role model, philanthropist, and tech-focused innovator.

  STEAM Advisor/Mentor - Melvin is the founder of Cyber Green Group, a nonprofit STEAM program. Prior to that time, he spent several years as a Crime Scene Investigator for the Baltimore City Police Department. Melvin has over 18 years as an educator, where he has taught and wrote curriculums in Forensic Science, Algebra, and Physics on the middle and high school levels. In addition, to his work, Melvin is a member of National Science Teacher Association and the National Society of Black Engineers. Melvin holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Norfolk State University and Master Degree in Education Leaderships from the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore, Maryland.

  STEAM Advisor/Mentor - Gilbert Bahati a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He is part of the Advanced Mechanical Bipedal Experimental Robotics Laboratory and specializes on Control Theory and AI for robotic systems. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (Systems) from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) in 2020. Outside of research, Gilbert is involved in numerous initiatives aimed at increasing access to educational resources for underrepresented comminutes. Among those initiatives is the Marie-Claire Scholarship Fund – which he recently founded – aimed at providing fully funded high school scholarships for Refugee student victims in Zambia.

  STEAM Advisor/Mentor -  Gabriel is a graduate from the University of Dayton with a B.S in Mechanical Engineering, where he was President of Black Action Through Unity, and Vice President of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Gamma Theta Chapter. He has had professional experience as a Test Engineer and Manufacturing Engineer for General Electric Aviation, developing skills in LEAN Manufacturing and data analysis. His most recent experience with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a Materials Engineering Intern, has motivated his career passions to pursue a Doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering, commitment to research in STEM, and passion to eventually join NASA’s Astronaut Space program. Gabriel is also a

writer & author of poetry book When You Get Older.