The SIAM team is ever-growing, and over the past several months, four new members of staff have onboarded. Get to know:
Abigail Addy, Director of Development and Corporate Relations
Abigail comes to SIAM from Penn Medicine, where she held the position of Senior Associate Director of Development. She started her career in community outreach and fundraising during college. Then, she moved into political fundraising where she raised money for members of Philadelphia City Council, judicial races, and several statewide campaigns. Following her time in politics, Abigail was a major gift officer at Penn Medicine for six years where she held a portfolio that included cardiovascular medicine, LGBTQ health, and the Center for Health Equity Advancement.
Abby oversees all fundraising activity for SIAM, which includes annual giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation giving, and estate giving. She builds relationships with members who have an interest in supporting SIAM, so that she can connect their personal philanthropic passions with SIAM’s highest fundraising priorities.
Q: Why are you excited to be working at SIAM?
A: I’m excited to be at SIAM because of the enormous opportunity here for establishing a long-lasting, robust development program that really makes a difference. In the few months I’ve been here, I’ve been impressed by the dedication and passion of SIAM’s members and their commitment to SIAM’s mission and growth. I’m looking forward to continuing to meet and connect with them!
Q: What part of SIAM’s mission statement do you connect with most?
A: SIAM’s commitment to fostering the development of industrial and applied math to help solve real world problems speaks to me because I know that math touches everything. My husband is a machine learning engineer and data scientist, and I’ve seen firsthand how important math is to a wide variety of industries that keep our world running and improve our lives.
Q: Why do you think STEM is important?
A: As technology and human knowledge continue to advance, the importance of STEM can’t be overstated. STEM fosters exciting new innovations every day and, as a fundraiser, those innovations keep my work interesting!
Q: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: I played trombone for many years and was 1st chair in the Kansas City Youth Orchestra.
Q: Why is philanthropy important to SIAM?
A: SIAM is a great example of an organization that can truly benefit from philanthropic investment. Philanthropy helps SIAM plan for the future; it also allows us to establish leading-edge programs that have a direct impact on our community but may be unlikely to find funding through other sources. SIAM has important goals in increasing the diversity of applied mathematicians, providing more resources to mathematics students, increasing global collaboration, and philanthropy helps us achieve them.
Taylor Johnson, Digital Communications and Content Coordinator
Taylor comes to SIAM after graduating from Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communications, where she studied Journalism. Recently, she was a Global Communications Co-op at Merck & Co., where she aided the global communications team by editing articles, managing Merck Animal Health’s corporate website copy and design project, and helping them streamline their communications process. Prior to Merck, Taylor was an Assistant Newsletter Editor at Philadelphia Stories – she also worked at Fox Chase Cancer Center as a Communications Intern and at Allen & Gerritsen as a Public Relations Intern.
Taylor’s responsibilities include managing SIAM blogs, as well as growing and managing SIAM’s social channels and public relations efforts.
Q: Why are you excited to be working at SIAM?
A: I am excited to make a difference within SIAM’s marketing team through communications-related initiatives.
Q: What part of SIAM’s mission statement do you connect with most?
A: I value SIAM’s focus on publications, research, and community to solve real-world problems with applied mathematics and computational science.
Q: Why do you think STEM is important?
A: STEM is essential to solving the world’s challenges and developing our society.
Q: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: I have studied Japanese for four years!
Q: Why is digital communications important to SIAM?
A: Digital communications allows SIAM to disseminate information and research within mathematics, science, and engineering communities, as well as foster an online network for interested individuals to partake.
Lerence Melton, Distribution and Facilities Manager
Lerence comes to SIAM from Thomas Jefferson University, where he was Director of Mail Services and Duplicating Services for the past five years. He received a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Thomas Jefferson University. Since then, his career path has been one of growth, opportunities, continued education, and relationship building.
Lerence’s responsibilities encompass managing the Distribution Services department; ensuring that all distribution and shipping related request are met; and working collaboratively with SIAM departments on the distribution of book orders, conference materials, and special requests. Additionally, he is the liaison for any SIAM facility-related issues.
Q: Why are you excited to be working at SIAM?
A: I am excited to be working at SIAM because of the people, the work environment, and culture. Working at SIAM, I have the opportunity to make a difference within a strong organization.
Q: What part of SIAM’s mission statement do you connect with most?
A: I connect with the part of SIAM’s mission statement in solving many real-world problems. There is purpose and knowledge opportunity in solving real-world problems, especially.
Q: Why do you think STEM is important?
A: STEM is important because of its impact on the economy’s growth.
Q: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: I am a huge fan of documentaries, either watching or reading them. I view documentaries as an avenue to learn something new and interesting, especially ones about people I have never heard of or am not too familiar with.
Q: Why is distribution important to SIAM?
A: Distribution is important to SIAM because it provides critical support to the different SIAM departments; allowing them to effectively service their customer base. Distribution is the linchpin to service that helps drive SIAM’s overall goals and objectives.
Eliana Zimet, Programs Coordinator
Eliana joins SIAM after having spent the last few years as Director of Programs at Challah for Hunger. Her career has focused on removing the barriers to equitable education. After graduating from Goucher College in 2015, she did two years of service in Philadelphia focusing on food and education justice.
Ellie provides support for SIAM’s programming, including M3 Challenge, career fairs, and graduate student camps and workshops.
Q: Why are you excited to be working at SIAM?
A: The incredible community—I’m already learning so much from our staff and volunteers.
Q: What part of SIAM’s mission statement do you connect with most?
A: I most appreciate SIAM’s focus on utilizing our community’s skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems.
Q: Why do you think STEM is important?
A: STEM is a part of just about every aspect of our lives and that’s not changing anytime soon!
Q: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: I recently turned my front yard into a raised bed garden. Urban homesteading, here I come!
Q: Why are programs important to SIAM?
A: SIAM’s programming is an early touchpoint for students at all levels to get excited about applied mathematics and see the real-world impact they can have. Our career fairs and industry workshops offer ways for people to connect, learn from one another, and find new ways that they can belong.