Sam Tumolo (she/they), EDC research associate, brings 10 years of experience in informal STEM learning, youth development, and project management. Tumolo has extensive expertise in experiential learning pedagogy, hands-on making, and effective strategies to bridge research and practice. She is dedicated to centering STEM equity and opportunity for neurodivergent youth and promoting learner-centered, strengths-based approaches.
Tumolo advances several EDC initiatives focused on enhancing informal learning experiences for neurodiverse children and youth. They are contributing to the development of a practitioner guide for creating informal engineering design programs with and for neurodiverse audiences using universal design for learning principles; furthering the goals of the NASA Neurodiversity Network; and supporting and examining the growth of an autistic-to-autistic mentorship program.
Previously, Tumolo was a developer of facilitated exhibit experience at the New York Hall of Science and a technology program specialist at The Franklin Institute. She co-authored an article on visitors’ agency in museums and science centers and presented during an online event led by Astronomers Without Borders.
Tumolo holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Temple University.