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. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Colorado and a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from The University of New Mexico.
Christian Slough
Project Manager
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.
Than Ngo
Marketing and Operations 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. Raised in New Mexico, Than also volunteers as treasurer for his church’s youth group
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.
