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Our Team

Monica Sandoval-Johnson, PhD

Co-Founder & CEO

As the Co-Founder and CEO of STEM Boomerang, Monica leverages her expertise in cross-sector strategy and 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 proud fifth-generation New Mexican, Monica holds a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado and a Bachelors degree from The University of New Mexico.

Christian Slough

Head of Growth and Talent Aquisition

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.

Stef Scanland

Talent Coordinator

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Man smiling outdoors, wearing a denim shirt and a wide-brimmed hat, standing near a fence with blue sky and clouds in the background.

Shea Lindner

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

Prior 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

A passionate educator and mentor, Dr. Werner-Washburne has mentored more than 600 students throughout her career as a professor at the University of New Mexico. Seeing firsthand the challenge of talented New Mexicans leaving the state for educational and career opportunities, she founded STEM Boomerang to help bring exceptional STEM talent back to New Mexico and connect them with opportunities to build their careers in the state.

Dr. Werner-Washburne is an AAAS Fellow and recipient of two U.S. Presidential awards recognizing her research and excellence in STEM mentoring, as well as the AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award.