Meet the team
Student-union
About our Team
StudentUnion.org is an educational nonprofit that bridges college students pursuing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) degrees with K–12 learners through hands-on, project-based learning. Their team comprises university-level Maker Fellow instructors who apply their advanced academic knowledge to mentor younger students in afterschool programs, in-school sessions, and summer camps. By fostering early engagement in STEAM, the organization aims to build confidence, creativity, and technical skills in the next generation of innovators.
Our Team
Founder and Executive Director
Stephen Gilman
Stephen is the founder and executive director of MakerState. Stephen and his son Ben started MakerState to bring fun STEAM building and learning projects in robotics, coding, game design and more to all kids, schools and communities (STEAM: science, tech, engineering, arts, math). Stephen’s mission is to help transform K-12 education from lecture-based memorization to student-centered, inquiry-based, experiential learning, empowering our kids with life-transforming passions and creative masteries in 21st skills and 21st century technology. Stephen is a founding board member of the Urban Assembly Maker Academy, a founder of the Carnegie Learning Center, a founding teacher and dean of Bronx Collegiate, a public school based in Outward Bound experiential learning, and a founding board member of the volunteer network, UlsterCorps. A veteran 82nd Airborne paratrooper, Stephen is focused on bringing our warriors back into civilian life with a youth-empowering purpose equal to their former missions of national defense. Stephen enjoys historical fiction writing, game design, geocaching, hiking, biking around NYC, and creativity of all kinds, especially if it’s with Ben.
Program Director
Justine Raagas
Justine Eleonor Raagas is a development sector leader with over a decade of experience in education reform and workforce developmen where she led large-scale initiatives focused on improving education-to-employment pathways, managing a multimillion-dollar portfolio funded by partners such as USAID, DFAT, Citi Foundation, J.P. Morgan, and Accenture. Justine has overseen the growth of workforce development programs from pilot stage to national implementation, building cross-sector partnerships with employers, government agencies, and education institutions. A skilled strategist and communicator, she serves on national advisory councils on skills and public-private partnerships for education; and is a recognized voice in public forums on the future of work, youth employability, and skills development. She holds a BS in Psychology from Xavier University – Ateneo and has completed executive education in higher education public policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.
Operations Manager
AJ Gena
AJ is Psychology graduate serving as a human resources professional with a penchant for efficiency and team collaboration. With a background in prominent organizations boasting 200-1000 employees, AJ brings extensive expertise in areas such as recruitment, employee relations, timekeeping, and benefits administration. Beyond the professional realm, AJ actively participates in an outreach program for an orphanage catering to children with special needs. Outside of work, AJ finds joy in traveling, exploring cafes, engaging in craft projects, and cherishing the company of her dogs, Kimba & Rain. AJ loves to watch TikTok videos and share work-related memes for fun.
Curriculum Coordinator & Maker Fellow Coach
Axel Perez
Axel is a STEAM – Maker Education enthusiast. An Industrial Designer graduated from The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Axel decided to dedicate his life to shape the future of our world by sharing what he knows and loves with everyone. Axel has served as a Maker – STEAM Educator, and enjoyed doing design-based and PBL projects in schools all over the world. Axel has also a LEADERSHIP ROLE as Makerspace teacher and manager in Mexican-based schools such as Olami ORT which is part of the Global network ORT and Tomás Moro Maguey school. Axel really enjoys teaching all kinds of things to anyone curious enough to pursue knowledge to make this world a better place to live, playing football since high school, biking every time he has a chance, acting and doing cosplay and kids shows at some parties as a superhero, prince, or any kind of character, also tried to share a couple of things on social media as “Morzapiens”, tried to learn as much as he can to restore the car that his inner kid always dreames to have, sharing and celebrating the diversity of humanity.
Content Manager
Stephanie Anne Manansala
With a strong background in both administration and human resources, Stephanie is instrumental in empowering Maker Fellows. She meticulously provides the support and oversight necessary to ensure they deliver outstanding service and cultivate strong relationships with our partner schools. When she's not dedicated to her work, Stephanie channels her vibrant energy into her passions: she's a certified fitness instructor who loves helping her community stay active, and a true outdoors adventurer, regularly exploring new trails through hiking or embarking on thrilling motorcycle excursions.
Professional Development Coordinator
Tony Martinelli
Tony Martinelli is an astronomy/digital art enthusiast currently pursuing a degree at SVA. Tony enjoys going on road trips, drawing on his iPad Pro, or building with anything he can get his hands on. Tony used to love taking things apart and putting them back together as a kid and eventually started teaching kids how to make cool objects with given supplies. Tony has served as an Instructor for Youth Programming at Kidspace Children's Museum and Discovery Science Center, and enjoyed doing many on and off-site educational programs. Tony has also taught and designed curriculum for Youth Summer Programs at Otis College of Art and Design. Tony really enjoys playing Dungeon and Dragons with friends, spending time with his leopard gecko, Mango and loves to research evidence of the existence of Bigfoot. Masteries: LEGO Mindstorms, ProCreate, Adobe Photoshop and other Adobe Creative Suite Programs, TinkerCAD, Scratch, Stop Motion Studio, GreenScreen and Canva.