The SIAM team is excited to welcome three new staff members. Get to know:
Moss Grum, Membership Coordinator
Moss joins SIAM after successfully obtaining their bachelor’s degree from Rowan University, majoring in various social sciences, and culminating their studies with a thesis in sculpture. Prior to SIAM, Moss wore many hats working in customer-facing roles like, retail and hospitality, which eventually lead to them to managing a small team.
As SIAM’s Membership Coordinator, Moss works hard to ensure that everyone who is a part of SIAM has a great experience. Their role has a unique proximity to volunteer members with great ideas to help improve the organization.
Q: Why are you excited to be working at SIAM?
A: I am excited to be working at SIAM because I learn so much every day, and I get to work with such a great community. The warmth from both the staff and membership has made my integration seamless and enjoyable.
Q: What part of SIAM’s mission statement do you connect with?
A: I connect with the breadth of SIAM’s mission statement. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are interconnected, and SIAM works to build bridges of communication, research, and knowledge between them. No one discipline can thrive without curiosity in another.
Q: Why do you think STEM is important?
A: STEM is important because understanding and improving the world around us is important. Without understanding the practical realities of the problems we face, we cannot implement practical solutions.
Q: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: I can throw a football in a perfect spiral!
Q: How do you see your role positively impacting SIAGs/our community as a whole?
A: I get to see in real-time how a mutually creative and welcoming environment fosters growth and positive change. By keeping the channels of communication between SIAM Activity Groups and SIAM staff open, my role contributes to the improvement of both.
Mellisa Pascale, Programs Coordinator
Mellisa joins SIAM after working in marketing and publicity. After spending 16 months in Ireland studying medieval Irish language and literature, Mellisa returned home to the Philadelphia area and began working in Book Acquisitions at SIAM.
Now, as SIAM’s Programs Coordinator, Mellisa works on a wide range of projects, including job boards, and supports the development of new programs.
Q: Why are you excited to be working at SIAM?
A: I am excited to return to SIAM because my colleagues and the SIAM community are full of intelligent and kind people, and it is a pleasure to work with them!
Q: What part of SIAM’s mission statement do you connect with?
A: As a Programs Coordinator, I am enthusiastic about advancing the application of math and computational science in academic and early career programs.
Q: Why do you think STEM is important?
A: STEM contributes to advancements in our society and it has the power to solve problems in every industry.
Q: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: I can very convincingly chirp like a bird.
Q: How do you see your role positively impacting our community as a whole?
A: My role supports programs for students from high school through graduate school, and I look forward to helping them connect with each other as they work toward their professional goals.
Kelly Vandergrift, Controller
Kelly joins SIAM with a 20-year long career in finance. She spent the majority of her career with companies in the wholesale and e-commerce industry. Prior to SIAM, she spent 11 years working with a wholesaler of power tools, where she was primarily responsible for financial statement preparation, financial analysis, and internal controls.
As SIAM’s Controller, Kelly supervises the accounting team. Together, they make sure all revenue and expenses are recorded properly so they can present accurate financial statements to the Financial Management Committee. The team also manages expenses to make sure funds are spent appropriately according to the annual budget.
Q: Why are you excited to be working at SIAM?
A: SIAM is the first nonprofit organization that I have worked with. It has been rewarding to work with a team that gives back to the community by creating a forum for mathematics to converge with science and technology. I am honored to be part of a society that encourages the advancement of mathematics to solve real-world problems.
Q: What part of SIAM’s mission statement do you connect with?
A: Community and cooperation resonate with me personally. I admire the emphasis on “coming together” to leave a positive impact on society.
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Q: Why do you think STEM is important?
A: On an individual level, STEM fosters creativity and improves problem-solving capabilities. STEM fields have diverse applications, which open opportunities for career development and advancement. On a global level, STEM facilitates real-world problem solving.
Q: What is one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: In school, math and science were always the most interesting subjects to me. Other career paths that I considered were in engineering, pharmacy, and nursing.
Q: How does your role within SIAM contribute to our community or help us fulfill our mission internally?
A: The accounting department plays a critical role in the financial planning of SIAM’s various areas of focus. We ensure that funds are spent appropriately to maximize the benefits shared with the mathematical community.