Meet the Board
Brian M. Wargo, Co-founder and President
Brian M. Wargo has a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of Pittsburgh and holds a master’s degree in Physics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He primarily teaches scientific practice to both graduate students and high school students. When not teaching, he counts hawks at Allegheny Front Hawk Watch. Wargo is also the editor for the Eastern Flyway for Hawk Migration Studies and Chairs both the Education and Conservation Committee and the Data Committee for the Hawk Migration Association of North America. Wargo is also a skilled igloo builder.
Jacob Beckey, Co-founder and Vice President
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Richie McEwan, Treasurer
Richie McEwen is a founding board member and treasurer of the ISI. He has a B.S. in Energy Business and Finance and a minor in New Venture Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Penn State which gives him a unique background in both science and business & finance. Richie has spent his career as a financial analyst working in both the government and private sectors. He uses his education and experience to help guide ISI from a business and financial perspective. Richie hopes to help ISI grow into its full potential because he believes that quality science education is pivotal for any future career regardless of STEM designation.
Andrew Baker, Secretary
Andrew Baker is a founding board member, the current secretary, and chair of the events and social media committees for the ISI. His work with the organization places emphasis on establishing infrastructure to support the development of the ISI and strategizing how to effectively support high school teachers that could benefit from the ISI’s resources. He is motivated by the opportunities he has received in life as a result of his high school physics education (from founder Brian Wargo) and wants to see future students/teachers benefit in a similar way. After receiving his bachelor’s in physics from Clarion University, Andrew received his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Sandia Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jared Heymann
Jared Heymann holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Duke University and a B.S. in Chemistry from Gannon University. He is currently completing an M.B.A. at the University of Texas at Dallas, with a focus on strategy, marketing, and the application of emerging technologies. With a strong commitment to education, critical thinking, and creativity, Jared began his career as an assistant professor at Elon University, where he cultivated a passion for teaching and mentoring. He then transitioned to industry, spending more than a decade with the Clorox Company, where he led innovation initiatives across the cleaning, pet care, and water filtration sectors.
Jared's extensive experience in both technical and organizational leadership, coupled with his consumer-focused mindset, allows him to bring a unique perspective to the Idealized Science Institute. His dedication to the ISI mission is driven by a desire to create a lasting impact on society by promoting critical thinking and the application of scientific principles across diverse communities. Through his involvement with ISI, Jared aims to help build a sustainable organization that not only nurtures students’ authentic engagement with science but also provides the resources and mentorship necessary to foster a culture of inquiry and evidence-based reasoning that extends far beyond the classroom.
Cole Skuse
Cole Skuse is a founding member of the ISI and currently sits as the chair of the Scholarships committee for the ISI. He graduated with a B.S. in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University and currently works as a Quality/Systems Analyst at Relyence Corporation. During his time with the ISI, he has worked on helping to establish guidelines for ISI scholarships and building communication with stakeholders. He believes that students from any background should have as many opportunities as possible to succeed, and that starts with giving access to those resources for as many people as possible. As part of his time with ISI, Cole hopes to also use his communication skills to help build strong connections between the ISI members and the broader community.
Kristy Sturgess
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Zach Scheider
Zach Scheider is a board member of the ISI and serves on the content development, fundraising, and financial committees. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Computer Engineering and uses the technological expertise gained to help the Idealized Science Institute wherever its needed. Zach benefited from receiving a science education guided by the principles of the Idealized Science Institute and hopes to help it grow to benefit more students in the future. He is currently employed at NetApp Inc. as a software engineer.
Application for Board Membership or General Volunteering
If you would like to serve on the board of directors, please email: IdealizedScience@gmail.com
If you would like to donate your time, skills, or expertise, please email: IdealizedScience@gmail.com