The role of the STEM+C2 Advisory Council is to provide guidance on future directions for the project. Members of the Advisory Council bring a variety of perspectives and talents to the Council.
STEM+C2 Advisory Council Members
Dr. Christine Cunningham. Dr. Christine Cunningham is a leading expert on science and engineering education. She received her doctorate in Science Education from Cornell and is currently the Senior Vice President, STEM Learning at the Museum of Science in Boston. In 2017, she was awarded the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education which recognizes individuals who have made innovative and significant contributions to changes in P-12 Education.
Dr. Wayne Fawcett. Dr. Wayne Fawcett is the former superintendent of the Paris School District. Prior to this, he was the superintendent of Drew Central Schools in Monticello. He has been involved in education for 39 years. He graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 1982 with his Bachelors, later earning his Master’s in Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He received his Doctoral Degree from Harding University in 2017.
Ms. Kara Harvey. Kara Harvey is the Gifted and Talented Coordinator/Facilitator in the Brinkley Public School District. Kara has 21 years of experience teaching in the elementary school setting. She currently serves as the Gifted and Talented Coordinator for grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) and facilitates direct instruction for kindergarten through second grades (K-2) Whole Group Enrichment and grades three through six (3-6) Pull Out Instruction. The Brinkley School District was previously chosen to participate in the STEM+C2 Project. She is also an alumni of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Dr. Mike Hernandez. DDr. Miguel (Mike) Hernandez is the Executive Director for the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators. In this role, he leads an organization that has a core mission of providing state-wide professional development and advocacy for a variety of administrative roles in Arkansas school districts. Dr. Hernandez is student-focused and works to support growth in each school leader’s ability to improve student achievement. He is actively engaged in the education community to identify, develop, and leverage resources to assist districts. Dr. Hernandez previously served at the Arkansas Department of Education in a variety of positions including State Superintendent for the Office of Coordinated Support and Service and Deputy Commissioner. He also served as Assistant Commissioner over Fiscal Services. Dr. Hernandez has served as Superintendent of the Hot Springs School District and Danville School District. He began his administrative career as a Principal of the Western Yell County High School. Dr. Hernandez received his B.S. from the University of New Orleans, an M.A. from the University of Central Arkansas in Mathematics, an M.A. from Harding University and his doctorate from Harding University in Educational Leadership. Dr. Hernandez lives in Hot Springs with his wife, Susan, and three girls, Sophie, Olivia and Josie.
Mr. Johnny Key. (Ex officio member) On March 25, 2015, Johnny Key was approved by the State Board of Education to be the chief school officer of the Arkansas Department of Education. Gov. Asa Hutchinson recommended Key for the position of commissioner. In May 2019, Gov. Hutchinson announced Key as the Secretary of the Department of Education as part of his plan to transform state government. Key served in both capacities until January 2023. Under Key’s leadership, the agency focused the vision on transforming Arkansas to lead the nation in student-focused education. The mission is to provide leadership, support, and service to schools, districts, and communities so every student graduates prepared for college, career and community engagement. The value statements and goals guide the daily work within the agency. Prior to being named commissioner, Key served as associate vice president for university relations at the University of Arkansas System, a position he held since August 2014. He began his career in public service in 1997 when he was elected to serve as a justice of the peace on the Baxter County Quorum Court. He was elected to three two-year terms in the House of Representatives, followed by a tenure in the Senate that began in 2008.
Mr. Joseph K. Mahony III. Joseph “Jodie” K. Mahony III, born in El Dorado, is a catholic high school and UA Little Rock graduate. The Maumelle resident is a Co Owner of Mayhaw Publishing LLC, Real Estate Magazines, and the President of Mahony Consulting. Mr. Mahony is a former lobbyist for Developmental Disabilities Providers Association (DDPA), Easter Seals, Cerebral Palsy, Friendship, AEDD, and Pathfinder, among others, in Arkansas and Washington. For many years, he worked with state senators, state representatives, and the state of Arkansas to pass laws to increase opportunities for the DD community. The longtime Rotarian has experience teaching at Academics Plus Charter High School. He is a former board member of UA Little Rock Dean’s Advisory Council and Pulaski County Master Gardeners, and is a former Vice President of Wolfe Street Foundation, working to create a positive environment for recovery.
Mr. Michael Emon Mahony. Michael Emon Mahony is a Principal and former CEO of Gemini Rosemont Commercial Real Estate where he was responsible for corporate leadership and development, capital raise and acquisitions, and asset and investment performance. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer of Gemini Rosemont’s predecessor company, Rosemont Realty, LLC, where Mr. Mahony led corporate operations for the company, including asset due diligence efforts and ongoing management and operations of real estate investments, while providing strategic direction and leadership for the company. Prior to Rosemont, Mr. Mahony was Vice President of Acquisitions and Finance for André Balazs Properties (ABP), a New York-based boutique hotel and residential management and development company. At ABP, Mr.Mahony directed business development efforts and negotiated the participation of ABP in over $1 billion of new projects. Before joining André Balazs Properties, Mr. Mahony was with the real estate private equity group at Lazard Frères in New York focusing on the ongoing management, restructuring, and disposition of the funds’ portfolio assets. Mr. Mahony is a member of the Board of his family’s timber company, the Mahony Corporation, based in El Dorado, Arkansas, and is active for a number of non-profit organizations in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mr. Mahony received a Master’s Degree in International Finance from the London School of Economics, after earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and in History from Yale University. Mr. Mahony is from El Dorado, Arkansas.
Dr. David Montague. Dr. David R. Montague is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs-Student Success at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and is a tenured, Full Professor of Criminal Justice. In his first career, he completed federal investigations for fourteen years in law enforcement and intelligence capacities working for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a federal drug diversion investigator, the United States JFK Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) as the agency’s senior investigator, and later as a consultant on national security matters with US Investigations Services, Inc. He has lectured on Asset Forfeiture at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia and delivered over 250 presentations at academic conferences and community events, including research presentations in Austria, Slovenia, Germany, Holland, Trinidad, and Canada. His latest project is as part of a research team on a $2 Million National Science Foundation grant to implement evidence-based teaching practices in a wide-range of STEM courses, to reduce the equity gap of historically underserved groups. He is the coauthor of the book Travesty of Justice: The politics of crack cocaine and the dilemma of the Congressional Black Caucus, now in its Second Edition. Along with Paige Bowers, they co-authored the book OVERNIGHT CODE: The Life of Raye Montague, the Woman Who Revolutionized Naval Engineering; it was featured on Good Morning America and received the 2022 Georgia Author of the Year Award for a Biography. His next book will address his time as part of the Congressional reinvestigation of JFK assassination records during the 1990s. Dr. Montague is active in the community, volunteering as a reserve police officer in Bryant Arkansas, and has served on several discipline-related boards. He earned a PhD at Howard University in Political Science, an MA at The George Washington University in Crime and Commerce, and a BA at Morehouse College in Political Science.
Dr. Tina Moore. As the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Division of Higher Education Director of Workforce Development, Dr. Tina Moore serves as a liaison for K-12, higher education, and workforce entities. She fosters interdepartmental collaboration among ADE divisions to ensure each student has the learning opportunities needed to attain their post-secondary educational and career goals, including industry-recognized certifications and concurrent enrollment for college credit and credentials. Dr. Moore leads collaborative interagency partnerships among government offices to solidify comprehensive, data-driven, K-Workforce pathways. She coordinates engagement within and among institutions of higher education and workforce development partners related to programs of study that lead to high-growth, high-demand, and high-skill careers. Dr. Moore works with Arkansas business, industry, and philanthropy to increase work-based learning opportunities for high school and post-secondary students. She leads the Arkansas Technology Ecosystem and Arkansas Million Women Mentors to robust the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. She also leads Arkansas Math Pathways to Success to support the scaling of mathematics pathways from highschool through postsecondary education and into the workplace, aligned to students’ goals and aspirations. Dr.Moore received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a master’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, both in secondary mathematics education. She completed a specialist degree through Arkansas State University and a doctoral degree through Liberty University in educational leadership, curriculum, and instruction. She holds educator licensure in secondary Mathematics and Computer Science and district-level Curriculum/Program Administration. Her passion for STEM and lifelong learning has led to a diverse career path in education, healthcare, and the corporate sector. Dr. Moore has held various leadership positions including serving as the ADE Director of STEM/Computer Science Continuum; the ADE Mathematics Program Manager; the Arkansas State University at Beebe Dean of Business, Math, and Science; and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Center for Health Literacy Director.
Ms. Krystal Nail. Krystal Nail is the Program Director for the Office of Gifted & Talented and Advanced Placement at the Arkansas Department of Education’s division of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prior to serving in this role, Krystal has served as a program advisor for the Office of Gifted & Talented and Advanced Placement, K-12 Gifted program coordinator and facilitator, and Advanced Placement coordinator. Krystal has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Gifted Education. She has served in various positions on the Arkansans for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE) Board and conference committee, is a former AGATE conference chair, and has presented numerous times at the AGATE Conference, the Arkansas Association of Gifted Educational Administrators conference, the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators conference, and the National Association of Gifted Children’s conference.
Mr. Aaron Randolph. Aaron Randolph, Assistant Superintendent, was born in Jacksonville, Arkansas. He attended all 13 years of his public education in the Cabot school system and graduated from Cabot High School in 2001. Prior to serving in his current role, Mr. Randolph served as the Director of G/T & AP for Cabot Schools beginning in 2012 and added the role of Federal Programs Director in 2015. From 2018-2021 he served as the Executive Director for K-12 Curriculum & Instruction for the Cabot School District. Other than one year as an undergraduate studying in Europe, Mr. Randolph has spent his entire life in the state of Arkansas. Mr. Randolph has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Classical Studies from the University of Arkansas. He was presented with a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching from the University of Central Arkansas. In addition, Mr. Randolph received a Graduate Certificate in the Education of Gifted, Talented, & Creative students from Arkansas State University and earned an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He holds educational licensure in 7-12 Social Studies and K-12 Gifted and Talented, along with District-level and Curriculum/Program administration. Before beginning as a full-time teacher, Mr. Randolph worked in both the Cabot School District as well as the North Little Rock School District as a substitute teacher. He began his teaching career at NLR High School – East Campus before returning to his alma mater in 2010. Prior to moving into administration he taught a number of Social Studies courses including World History, Civics, Pre-AP Civics, Economics, AP European History and AP Art History. Mr. Randolph is a professional member of ASCD, AAEA, AACIA, AAGEA, where he serves as the Immediate Past-president, NAGC, and AGATE, where he serves as the chair of the Legislative committee. Mr. Randolph has been married to his wife, Ann, since 2007. The couple has four wonderful children, Charlotte, Daniel, Benjamin, and Elizabeth. The Randolph family is actively involved at Fellowship Bible Church in Cabot and proud to be a part of the Cabot community.