About Us

Dr. Leah Bug is the Director of The Engineering Place for K-20 Engineering Outreach at NC State University. With over 30 years of experience in education, STEM outreach, and leadership, she oversees the development and implementation of engineering programs aimed at increasing K-12 student interest in engineering, particularly among underrepresented populations. Her work is distinguished by a commitment to providing culturally responsive engineering education and fostering community partnerships.

Leah holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction (Science Education) from Pennsylvania State University, with her dissertation focused on K-8 science teacher professional development, NGSS standards, and blended learning. She also holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Idaho State University and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Montana State University.

A highlight of her career includes her time as an Aerospace Education Specialist with NASA, where she advanced STEM education initiatives, serving as a NASA representative for K-12 schools and community events. She later transitioned to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she became a member of the management team for the NASA Explorer Schools (NES) program. In this role, she oversaw national educational programs designed to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM fields, working closely with NASA Centers across the country to ensure coordinated efforts in STEM outreach. Her leadership in these roles was instrumental in promoting STEM education nationwide.

In addition to her NASA experience, Leah has held several other leadership roles, including Assistant Director of the Center for Science and the Schools at Penn State and Executive Director of the North Carolina Science Fair Foundation. She has consistently secured funding, developed strategic partnerships, and promoted STEM initiatives at the state and national levels.

Leah was a National Board Certified Teacher and has earned multiple science and math teaching awards, including a three-time state awardee for the President’s Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching. Her professional certificates include the NC State Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Foundations Certificate and the NC State Inclusive Excellence Certificate. She is a frequent presenter at national conferences and serves on committees, supporting initiatives to strengthen the visibility and success of STEM outreach programs at NC State.  

Susan D’Amico earned a B.S in Industrial Engineering from NC State in 1986. She has worked in the Telecom and Contract Manufacturing Industries for over 20 years as an Industrial Engineer, Process Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Project Manager, Business Cost Manager, and Program Manager. In the course of her work, she has interfaced with many different types of engineers. Her professional path has made a turn towards education, and she has completed the coursework for a lateral entry teaching position. Susan now works for The Engineering Place as Coordinator of Engineering K-12 Outreach Extension. She’s responsible for the elementary and middle school engineering summer camps on the Raleigh campus. She also works with other partnering locations, such as Rocky Mount, Hickory, Havelock, and Kinston, to help provide K-12 summer educational engineering opportunities throughout the state to as many children as possible.

Amy Isvik is the newest member of the Engineering Place, joining us in 2024. Recently she spent 9 months in Rwanda on a Fullbright Student Research Fellowship, helping teachers bring computing activities into their classrooms. She is in the process of finishing a PhD in computer science, focusing on ways to support teachers in bringing computer science activities into their classrooms. She is originally from Iowa and received a bachelor’s degree in Math and Computer Science from Wartburg College. In her free time she enjoys going to musicals, playing board games, and reading science fiction and fantasy books.

Laura Bottomley joined NC State University in the fall of 1997 with the mission of creating a Women in Engineering program. She soon realized the need for and originated a K-12 Outreach program in 1999. She is responsible for the oversight of The Engineering Place and its strategic operations. She is also a frequent creative contributor to program content. She holds primary responsibility for funding operation and personnel. Laura also established the Women in Engineering program and is a senior advisor, advises students, and teaches the E 101 Introduction to Engineering and Problem-Solving class for first-year students. She currently is the Engineering Education Director.

Laura graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering in 1984 and 1985 respectively. She spent two years at AT&T Bell Laboratories, before returning to school at NC State for her Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering. She has also taught at Duke University, where she began her work in K-12 Outreach while teaching undergraduate and graduate electrical engineering courses. Since then, she has consulted with Lockheed Martin, IBM, MCNC, and others before eventually originating her current position in the Office Academic Affairs in the College of Engineering at NC State.

Laura is a Fellow of the IEEE, a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education, a faculty advisor for the Society of Women Engineers at NC State, a member of the steering committee for the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) assessment in technological literacy and a frequent guest speaker for various groups. She has been inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women for her work in empowering women and eliminating racism. The combined Women in Engineering and K-12 Outreach Program under her tutelage received the institutional President’s Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in 2000. In 2009 Laura received the individual President’s Award for Excellence. Also in 2009 IEEE honored her with the Educational Activities Board Informal Education Award. Some of her National Science Foundation-sponsored work with K-12 was featured on the NSF Discoveries website in 2005.

Laura Bottomley joined NC State University in the fall of 1997 with the mission of creating a Women in Engineering program. She soon realized the need for and originated a K-12 Outreach program in 1999. She is responsible for the oversight of The Engineering Place and its strategic operations. She is also a frequent creative contributor to program content. She holds primary responsibility for funding operation and personnel. Laura also runs the Women in Engineering program, advises students, and teaches the E 101 Introduction to Engineering and Problem-Solving class for first-year students.