Who We Are

We’re educators, mathematicians, artists, scientists, leaders, game designers, and so much more. We’re here because improving math education is more than just our mission — it’s our passion

Meet Our MasterMINDs

JiJi

Beloved Penguin, ST Math

JiJi

Beloved Penguin, ST Math

JiJi oversees student success and is responsible for crossing the screen as math puzzles are solved. JiJi is an accomplished world traveler, and has led over two million students to the next challenge as they play ST Math. JiJi is not great at jumping, but excels at waddling around classrooms in pursuit of giving students and educators alike a high “flipper”. JiJi is currently studying all mathematical subjects in grades PreK-8.

Geri Cohen

Chief Financial Officer

Geri Cohen

Chief Financial Officer

Geri Cohen has a longtime history in the financial services industry, helping major banks navigate through rapid deregulation, massive shifts in economic environment, and emerging technologies with innovative and profitable solutions. She comes to MIND from NWEA, where she served as Chief Financial Officer and EVP of Corporate Services, enabling a remarkable course of financial growth for this mission-driven learning company (from $20 million to $200+ million) while greatly improving its financial stability. Geri received her MBA in finance and BA in psychology from the University of Chicago. 

Andrew Coulson

Chief Data Science Officer

Andrew Coulson

Chief Data Science Officer

Andrew Coulson leads a team of data analysts to conduct evaluations of student and teacher usage and outcomes of ST Math. Previously, he led MIND’s education division for 12 years. There, he helped to execute strategies to scale the organization’s reach to over one million students. Previously, Coulson was the first education program officer for a major Orange County foundation. He also worked for 17 years in upper management in high-tech manufacturing engineering, acquiring experience in operations, process engineering, product reliability, and technology transfer. Coulson earned a Bachelor of Science and holds a master’s degree in physics from UCLA.

Jason Mendenhall

Chief Product Officer

Jason Mendenhall

Chief Product Officer

Jason Mendenhall comes to MIND with an extensive history of improving learning and teaching around the world. He was previously the president at NWEA, as well as the CPO and EVP of Research, where he brought award-winning new products to market, expanded the reach of their flagship product to over 16 million learners, and introduced new research that highlighted the impact of student test engagement. Mendenhall was also the Partner and CPO at Faria Education Group, where he developed curriculum management software that emphasizes the importance of distinguishing planned, taught, and learned curriculum in international and domestic environments.

Brett Woudenberg

Chief Executive Officer

Brett Woudenberg

Chief Executive Officer

Brett Woudenberg is a veteran entrepreneur of the education technology industry. Prior to his leadership at MIND, he served in various C-level roles for a top publisher and several high growth education technology companies in K-12 and higher education. Woudenberg holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance, and received an MBA from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management.

Matthew Feldmann

Vice President, Product

Matthew Feldmann

Vice President, Product

Matthew Feldmann is responsible for developing a high-performing team of product managers, designers, and content specialists that define the future of ST Math. Prior to this position, he led cross-functional content creation teams at MIND to expand ST Math to 6th Grade, build the ST Math Common Core edition, and launch ST Math: Middle School Supplement. Previously, he worked at a biotechnology company where he designed the architecture and integration strategy for key enterprise planning systems. Feldmann earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Purdue University and holds a master’s degree in mathematical behavioral science from UC Irvine.

Kevin Hammer

Senior Vice President, Engineering and IT

Kevin Hammer

Senior Vice President, Engineering and IT

Kevin Hammer makes high-level design choices, dictates technical standards, and leads all procedures and processes for the engineering team on new technology platforms. He has been with MIND since 2014, and has been developing web applications since 1997. Previously, he was CTO for a social media start-up called mEgo, leading the launch of its social networking application. He also owned and managed a web development agency that produced online financial dashboards for companies like American Express, promotional web games for Warner Brothers and Sony, and CMS implementations for non-profits like the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles.

Karen Talbert

Vice President, Partnerships

Karen Talbert

Vice President, Partnerships

Karen Talbert leads the growth and expansion of all school and donor partner revenues by building relationships and aligning all incoming revenue efforts logistically, logically, and strategically to further MIND’s mission. She was previously a Regional Vice President of Partnerships at MIND. Talbert has over twenty-five years of experience in the education technology industry and has been vice president of sales and marketing at several companies. She is a veteran and serial edtech sales leader in growth-stage organizations. Talbert studied at North Carolina State University.

Caroline Wynne

Vice President, Engagement

Caroline Wynne

Vice President, Engagement

Caroline Wynne manages the organization’s marketing plans and activities that promote and enhance the organization's initiatives. Caroline has spent most of her marketing career at edtech organizations working closely with K-12 school districts and state departments of education. Most recently, she built and led a successful marketing team at Lexia Learning. Previously, as a marketing leader at Voyager Sopris and Performance Matters, she launched new edtech products, acted as a brand steward, implemented impactful thought leadership programs, and managed customer communications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in business marketing from Queens University of Charlotte.

Brienne Albert

Assistant Vice President, Education Success

Brienne Albert

Assistant Vice President, Education Success

Brienne Albert helps lead the Education Success team at MIND and ensures ST Math customer retention and expansion. Albert has been with MIND for twelve years. She offers a wealth of experience in a variety of roles, including Director of Education Success, Senior Curriculum Specialist on the Sales Enablement team, Staff Development Specialist, and Education Success Manager. Prior to MIND, Albert shared her passion for education with students in the classroom. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

Edwin D. Fuller

Chairman of the Board
President, Laguna Strategic Advisors LLC

Edwin D. Fuller

Chairman of the Board
President, Laguna Strategic Advisors LLC

Ed Fuller is President of Irvine, California-based Laguna Strategic Advisors, a global consortium that provides opportunities and business consulting services. Previously, he was Marriott International’s President & Managing Director of International Lodging for nearly 20 years. Fuller is an accomplished author and has served on numerous advisory boards that focus on educational and corporate social responsibility activities. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Boston University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Fuller has served on MIND’s board of directors since 2013.

Mark Bodner Ph.D.

Cofounder, Research Scientist, MIND Research Institute

Mark Bodner Ph.D.

Cofounder, Research Scientist, MIND Research Institute

Dr. Bodner is one of MIND’s co-founders. He is an adjunct professor of mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh and visiting professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at the East China Normal University. He formerly held faculty appointments at Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Neurosurgery and joint faculty appointments at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and UC Irvine’s Department of Physics. Bodner received his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in theoretical high-energy and mathematical physics from UCLA, and his Bachelor of Science in physics and chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He has served on the board of directors since 1998.

Weili Cheng

Executive Director, Yale Alumni Association

Weili Cheng

Executive Director, Yale Alumni Association

J. Weili Cheng is the executive director of the Yale Alumni Association (YAA). While overseeing the direction of programs, her leadership in the YAA has spearheaded many initiatives, including advancements in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cheng also serves as an associate at Laguna Strategic Advisors where she offers consultation on operations, management, and strategic planning in the hospitality services industry. She has over three decades of experience in hospitality and has served in a variety of leadership positions. Cheng holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Yale University and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Cheng joined MIND’s board of directors in 2022.

Mary de Wysocki

Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, Cisco Systems, Inc.

Mary de Wysocki

Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, Cisco Systems, Inc.

Mary de Wysocki leads the Corporate Affairs Strategy and Global Problem Solving Initiative team at Cisco Systems, Inc., developing programs and partnerships that create opportunities for people to innovate and succeed in the digital economy. Previously, she led the development of Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group’s Innovations Practice. She has been integral to a variety of corporate social responsibility and education initiatives at Cisco for over ten years. De Wysocki holds a Bachelor of Arts in government from Wheaton College and a Juris Doctor degree from Pace University School of Law. She joined the board of directors in 2017.

Brett Woudenberg

Chief Executive Officer, MIND Education & MIND Research Institute

Brett Woudenberg

Chief Executive Officer, MIND Education & MIND Research Institute

Brett Woudenberg is a veteran entrepreneur of the education technology industry. Prior to his leadership at MIND, he served in various C-level roles for a top publisher and several high growth education technology companies in K-12 and higher education. Woudenberg holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance, and received an MBA from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management.

Dr. Terry Crane

Chairman of the Board
President, Crane Associates

Dr. Terry Crane

Chairman of the Board
President, Crane Associates

Dr. Terry Crane is a business leader and educational consultant who works with corporations and institutions that are seeking to move through the 21st century with real solutions for challenging educational issues. Previously, she served as Vice President for Education and Family Products at AOL, President of Jostens Learning Corporation, and Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Strategic Marketing, among other roles. Dr. Crane has a doctoral degree in educational leadership and a master’s in early childhood education from the University of North Texas. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Chuck Amos

Chief Executive Officer, GuideK12

Chuck Amos

Chief Executive Officer, GuideK12

Chuck Amos is Chief Executive Officer at GuideK12, the only geovisual analytics company serving the education market. For many years, Chuck has been an independent consultant with educational technology companies globally. Prior to consulting, he served as the CEO of Atomic Learning where, under his leadership, the company grew to become the world’s leading provider of web-based software training serving schools globally. Before joining Atomic Learning, Amos worked as the Central US education regional manager for Apple Computer. Amos holds a bachelor of science degree in business with an emphasis in finance from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management.

Ellen Bialo

President and CEO, Interactive Educational Systems Design

Ellen Bialo

President and CEO, Interactive Educational Systems Design

Ellen Bialo devotes much of her time to the management, implementation, and analysis of education market research. Prior to founding IESD, she spent almost a decade in the classroom, teaching mathematics at both the junior and senior high school levels. Bialo has served the education publishing community as chair of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) Education Section board of directors, an advisor to the National Science Foundation, an industry awards judge for EdNET and the Association of Educational Publishers, and a member of the School Tech Exposition & Conference advisory board. She earned her graduate degree at Teachers College, Columbia University and is a certified educational psychologist.

Mark Bodner Ph.D.

Cofounder, Research Scientist, MIND Research Institute

Mark Bodner Ph.D.

Cofounder, Research Scientist, MIND Research Institute

Dr. Bodner is one of MIND’s co-founders. He is an adjunct professor of mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh and visiting professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at the East China Normal University. He formerly held faculty appointments at Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Neurosurgery and joint faculty appointments at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and UC Irvine’s Department of Physics. Bodner received his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in theoretical high-energy and mathematical physics from UCLA, and his Bachelor of Science in physics and chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He has served on the board of directors since 1998.

Dr. Rudy Crew

Clinical Professor at the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education

Dr. Rudy Crew

Clinical Professor at the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education

A nationally-acclaimed educator, Dr. Crew is a clinical professor at the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education. His career has extended from the classroom to the chancellorship of New York City Public Schools, the nation's largest school district. Dr. Crew also served as president of Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York, from 2013-2021. His book, Only Connect: The Way to Save Our Schools, has influenced public discourse about the future of education and continues to drive vital public discussion. The Chancellor's District, the Parent Academy, and the School Improvement Zone are among just a few of Dr. Crew's innovations that are considered national models for reform. 

Donald E. Garcia

Founder, Pinnacle Consulting Group

Donald E. Garcia

Founder, Pinnacle Consulting Group

Donald Garcia is founder, owner, and president of Pinnacle Consulting Group, a financial planning firm located in southern California. Previously, he was among the top investment advisors for John Hancock. He has been recognized by the Million Dollar Roundtable, a trade organization for financial professionals, and has served as president of the National Association of Professional Insurance and Financial Advisors of Orange County. Garcia earned his Bachelor of Arts in speech communication at California State University, Long Beach. He has served on the board of directors since 2014.

David L. Horowitz

Chairman, Horowitz Management

David L. Horowitz

Chairman, Horowitz Management

David Horowitz is the Chairman of Horowitz Group. The Horowitz Family owned and operated Standard Concrete from 1949 until 1990. David Horowitz was its CEO and controlling member for 17 of those years. Today, Horowitz Group is a single family investment office based in Orange County, California. The family office invests opportunistically in private equity and real estate, and was an early capital provider to multi-unit brands, such as Lemonade Restaurant Group, Sprouts Farmers Market, and MiniLuxe, Inc. Horowitz earned a Bachelor of Arts from Pomona College in Claremont, California. He has served on the board of directors since 2004.

Steve E. Litchfield

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, MaxLinear, Inc.

Steve E. Litchfield

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, MaxLinear, Inc.

Steve Litchfield is Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at MaxLinear Inc. Previously, Litchfield was an Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Microsemi Corporation where he was responsible for all corporate strategy, development, and acquisitions. Prior to joining Microsemi, Litchfield worked at Banc of America Securities. He spent his early career at Toyota Motor Corporation, both in Japan and the United States. Litchfield holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Purdue University, and a Master of Business Administration from University of Southern California. He has served on the board of directors since 2016.

James "Jim" McCluney

Executive Chairman of the Board, Emulex Corporation (Retired)

James "Jim" McCluney

Executive Chairman of the Board, Emulex Corporation (Retired)

James McCluney joined Emulex in November 2003 as President and COO, and then in 2006 as CEO and Executive Chairman of the Board until 2013. During his tenure at Emulex, McCluney was instrumental in formulating a strategy for growth and diversification, executing on several acquisitions which positioned Emulex for entry into new market segments. McCluney holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. He has served on the board of directors since 2008.

John H. Phelan Jr.

Executive Vice President of Capital Research & Management Capital Group Companies, Inc. (Retired)

John H. Phelan Jr.

Executive Vice President of Capital Research & Management Capital Group Companies, Inc. (Retired)

John Phelan was with the Capital Group Companies, Inc. from 1992-2016, during which time he held several key positions, including Executive Vice President of Capital Research and Management. Previously, he was an associate partner with Andersen Consulting, where he specialized in investment management and banking. Phelan holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Management from Northwestern University. He has served on the board of directors since 2008.

Brett Woudenberg

Chief Executive Officer, MIND Education & MIND Research Institute

Brett Woudenberg

Chief Executive Officer, MIND Education & MIND Research Institute

Brett Woudenberg is a veteran entrepreneur of the education technology industry. Prior to his leadership at MIND, he served in various C-level roles for a top publisher and several high growth education technology companies in K-12 and higher education. Woudenberg holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance, and received an MBA from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management.

Dr. Matthew Peterson

Founder and Director Emeritus

Dr. Matthew Peterson

Founder and Director Emeritus

Dr. Matthew Peterson created ST Math, which serves more than one million students, creating learning environments that can yield the next generation of STEM leaders. Peterson is a regular speaker at national and international math and education conferences. After completing his undergraduate degrees in biology, electrical engineering, and Chinese language and literature from University of California, Irvine, Peterson completed a doctorate in visual neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley.

Ted Smith

Chairman Emeritus

Ted Smith

Chairman Emeritus

Ted Smith founded FileNet in 1982, leading the company as chairman and CEO until 1998, and then as chairman through 2000. He remained a member of the board of directors and major stockholder until the company’s sale to IBM in August of 2006. Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the University of Maryland, then served his country as an Air Force officer in charge of a radar site on an island in the China Sea. The former CEO and Chairman of the Board Emeritus, he served on the board of directors beginning in 2001.

Dr. Gordon Shaw

Founder

Dr. Gordon Shaw

Founder

Dr. Gordon L. Shaw was a founder of The MIND Research Institute. His groundbreaking work in brain theory and experiential learning approaches led to his conception of innovative, visually-based software games, leading to the creation of ST Math with MIND Research Institute co-founders Drs. Mark Bodner and Matthew Peterson. Dr. Shaw earned his Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Cornell University in 1959 and joined the Physics Department of the University of California Irvine campus in 1965. He made numerous contributions in elementary particle theory and brain theory, with over 170 publications in neuroscience and elementary particle physics. This included seminal work in the 1970’s with Dr. William Little of Stanford that introduced the powerful methods of statistical physics into the field of neural networks revealing fundamentals of the memory storage capacity of neural networks, and the development of spatial-temporal models of cortical activity. Dr. Shaw passed away in 2005. His many contributions both to physics and to the theories of learning, memory, and education will live on through the work of MIND and beyond.

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