Treating all individuals with fairness, consideration, and appreciation for their unique backgrounds and differences; providing a space of belonging for all learners.

Utilize engineering habits of mind and persistence in spite of failure in the systematic approach to problem-solving 

Connections to real-world, culturally relevant problem solving.

Working with researchers, students, partners, and funders to achieve common goals and leverage collective strengths

 Making a positive difference and continuously improving programs to achieve meaningful results.

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 was her time as an Aerospace Education Specialist with NASA, where she advanced STEM education initiatives and served as a NASA representative for K-12 schools and community events. She later transitioned to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she joined 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 STEM outreach efforts. 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.  

Steve brings a wealth of experience to this role. He is a former kindergarten and 2nd-grade teacher, instructional technology facilitator, and Assistant Director of Technology for Moore County Schools. At the SERVE Center, he worked as a STEM Specialist, helping build statewide momentum for integrating high-quality STEM practices into daily elementary instruction. He also founded the Building Engineers in K–5 Classrooms Conference, which has drawn more than 390 teachers, and has extensive experience running events and summer camps.

Dr. Amy Isvik is the newest member of the Engineering Place, joining us in 2024. Amy graduated with a B.A. degree in Math and Computer Science from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, and an M.S. and PhD degree in Computer Science from NC State. As a graduate student at N.C State, she engaged in research, leadership, and K12 outreach, receiving the Chancellor’s Creating Community Award, the Women and Minority Engineering Programs Building Bridges Award, the Deborah S. Moore Service Award, and the first two-time recipient of the Computer Science Graduate Students Leadership Award.

Her research focuses on expanding access and broadening participation in computing through efforts to infuse computing into the K12 classrooms. She investigated the creation and use of computer-infused lessons through the co-design process with high school students in a service-oriented high school internship program. This work was supplemented by a Fulbright Student Research Fellowship, which allowed her to support Rwandan teachers in bringing computing into their Math and Science classrooms through a series of workshops.

Amy continues her passion for expanding access and broadening participation in computer science and engineering by inspiring students of all ages through K12 student programming. She showcases the innovative engineering research occurring on NC State’s campus and travels to schools in rural communities to engage students in hands-on engineering challenges and help them learn how engineers help shape the future.

In her free time, she enjoys going to musicals, playing board games, reading science fiction and fantasy books, and undertaking arts and crafts projects like stained glass and scrapbooking.

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.