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Our Team

Monica Sandoval-Johnson, PhD

Co-Founder & CEO

Monica leads organizational strategy and workforce programming at STEM Boomerang, where she leverages her expertise in project management, grant development, and cross-sector partnerships to strengthen New Mexico’s STEM talent pipeline. She has built collaborations with more than 100 STEM employers, educational institutions, and state agencies. A fifth-generation New Mexican, Monica holds a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado and a Bachelors degree from The University of New Mexico.

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Christian Slough

Strategic Partnerships Lead

Leads employer engagement, program design, and startup ecosystem alignment at STEM Boomerang. With over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship innovation and workforce development he helps connect industry with talent. A New Mexico native, Christian holds an MBA from UNM and teaches at the Anderson School of Management as well.

Mark Thompson

Technical Instructor

With over 40 years of experience in advanced technology industries, including roles at Intel, GlobalFoundries, he leads instruction for our technical training programs. Mark specializes in translating complex technologies into practical skills, helping participants build strong technical foundations and apply best practices in real-world environments.

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Shea Lindner

Assistant Project Coordinator

Supports program coordination at STEM Boomerang, contributing to outreach materials, resource development, event support, and stakeholder engagement. He brings experience in collaborative innovation spaces, hands-on learning environments, and technical team support. Based on a small farm in Aztec, Shea brings a rural New Mexico perspective to STEM outreach and workforce development and holds an M.S. in Public Engagement from New Mexico Tech.

Than Ngo

Marketing Intern

Supporting marketing and communications at STEM Boomerang, helping connect students and employers through digital outreach and storytelling. A recent graduate of UNM with a B.B.A. in Business Marketing, he brings experience in sales, social media management, and content development.

Maggie Werner-Washburne, PhD

STEM Boomerang Founder

Dr. Maggie Werner-Washburne received a B.A. in English from Stanford, traveled in the Americas and Polynesia for 5 years, and received an MS from U Hawaii and PhD and post doctoral experience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her research at UNM was in yeast genomics. Maggie is an AAAS Fellow and received two US Presidential awards for research and excellence in STEM mentoring, and AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award.