Faculty and Staff
Dr. Thomas Woodson
Principal Investigator & Boot Camp Director
Associate Professor
Dr. Thomas S. Woodson is an associate professor at Stony Brook University in the Department of Technology and Society. He specializes in science and technology policy and international development. For his current projects, Thomas is investigating the effects of technology on inequality throughout the world and the causes/consequences of inclusive innovation. Dr. Woodson earned his Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in public policy with a specialization in science and technology policy and his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Princeton University.
Email: thomas.woodson@stonybrook.edu
Dr. Marianna Savoca
Co-Principal Investigator
Assistant Vice President for Career Development & Experiential Education
Marianna Savoca, PhD is director of the Stony Brook University Career Center, a centralized and comprehensive center that serves all students and alumni from all majors, class years, and career intentions. Serving as director since 2000 she is proud of her team of outstanding professionals whose record of innovation and accomplishments are known across the USA and internationally. Dr. Savoca is an adjunct faculty member in the Higher Education Administration program at Stony Brook, where she teaches career counseling and external relations. Her research interests include first-generation college student success, experiential education, and career development.
A first-generation college student, Marianna is from Brooklyn, NY. She earned a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Binghamton, a master’s degree from Indiana University, and recently a PhD in Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University. She is currently serving as President of the National Society of Experiential Education.
Dr. Braden Hosch
Co- Principal Investigator
Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness
Braden Hosch is the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research, Planning,
and Effectiveness at Stony Brook University where he leads all aspects of institutional
research, helps shape policy and planning, and oversees institutional effectiveness
efforts. Braden conducts large-scale higher education data benchmarking projects,
and he contributes actively to state, regional, national and international efforts
to advance quality and accountability in higher education. For a decade, he has been
a national IPEDS educator through the Association for Institutional Research (AIR).
He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Commission for Information Management
and Analysis (CIMA) for the Association of Public Land-grant Universities (APLU),
is the Finance Chair of the Steering Committee for the North East Association for
Institutional Research (NEAIR) and is the 4-year public university representative
to the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative.
He holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a M.A. degree
from the University of Texas-Dallas, and a B.A. degree from Swarthmore College.
DR. RAMÓN EMILIO FERNÁNDEZ
Math Immersion Instructor
Emilió Fernández is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education at Pace University, Pleasantville Campus. He specializes in Mathematics Education Management and Policy, Developmental Mathematics, and High School Mathematics Education. In his current role, Dr. Fernández teaches primarily Developmental Math, Probability and Statistics for Nursing and Health Science, as well as other math courses. His primary research stream is high school mathematics education policy, followed by developmental math in higher education, as well as the role of the university in the innovation ecosystem. He is a graduate of Stony Brook University, with a Ph.D. in Engineering Education, Management, and Policy, an MA in Hispanic Cultural Studies, a BS in Pure Mathematics with advanced courses in Teacher Education, and a BA in Hispanic Languages and Literature.
Kristen Pagano
Math Immersion Instructor
Kristen Pagano is a Mathematics Instructor at Bellport High School. Kristen graduated from Stony Brook with a B.S. in Pure Mathematics. During her undergrad, she managed to work a part-time job and compete as division 1 diver on the swimming team. Upon graduation, Kristen moved to Florida where she worked as an Assistant Marketing Manager for a Sports Travel Company before starting her own math tutoring company and investing in real estate. Kristen returned to Stony Brook University to complete her Master’s of Arts degree in teaching Secondary Mathematics Education in August 2013. At graduation, the professors awarded her with the Joseph and Virginia Roller Award for Excellence. Since 2013, Kristen has worked in many different areas on Stony Brook West Campus. She has been a mathematics instructor for the EOP/Aim department for 5 years teaching Algebra through Calculus 2. Kristen worked as an Algebra Instructor and a Pre-Calculus teaching assistant in the mathematics department, worked on technology grants for various professors in the mathematics department, and worked for C-Step as a mathematics instructor. Kristen recently collaborated with several master teachers and Dr. Lisa Berger to create ConcepTests questions as a resource for high school mathematics teachers.
Kristen’s concentration is in analysis, geometry, and educating students with diverse backgrounds and economic statuses. Kristen loves mathematics and enjoys sharing this passion with students. Her specialty is preparing students for the rigor of a 4 year university.