Meet our Board of Directors

Louise Jennings, Ph.D., is a professor in the School of Education at Colorado State University.  A former middle and high school teacher, she promotes DEIJ in education (diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice) in her teaching, research, and service. Dr. Jennings has also directed and supported youth empowerment programs at CSU and in partnership with local school districts. She has published articles and books on inquiry-based learning, critical youth empowerment, and DEIJ in education.

April Lafferty is a geologist and a partner in a private consulting firm. Ms. Lafferty and her firm assist companies with regulatory compliance and permitting. April is committed to promoting women in STEM academics and careers. 

In her free time, she enjoys experiencing the Colorado outdoors.

Leslie is the founder of The Quarter Project and BOD Treasurer. Leslie currently works as a mechanical design engineer for Integrated MEP, designing plumbing systems for commercial buildings.  Having been in the industry for over 20 years, Leslie founded The Quarter Project as a tool to promote women, primarily marginalized, in STEM academics and careers.  Leslie is also currently pursuing a PhD in Equity, Education and Transformation at Colorado State University. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, working on her farm, doing construction, quilting, and working on The Quarter Project. 

Lisa Pallotti is a senior system Engineer with Hewlett Packard Enterprise. In that role, she provides technical leadership across cross-functional and geographically diverse teams for large, complicated programs. She received BSMA and BSEE degrees from Michigan Technical University. She is passionate about encouraging and supporting females in technical fields and has been involved in the HPE Women's Network. She joined TQP five years ago with the goal of educating girls about the opportunities available in STEM, thus enabling them to have productive and fulfilling careers.

Kirk is the Director of CSU PowerHouse.

Kirk is a Colorado native now living in Fort Collins. In 2001 Kirk graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  Today, Kirk works for Colorado State University as the Director of Engineering at the Powerhouse Energy Campus.  As part of the Quarter Project team, Kirk strives to ensure access to a STEAM education for everyone.

Derek Young is a research associate in the Mechanical Engineering department at Colorado State University studying thermal energy systems. After working with a variety of students in Mechanical Engineering from early undergraduate to late graduate, Derek is passionate about getting more women and traditionally underserved/minority populations involved in STEM. Diversity in STEM is extremely powerful – since its Derek’s belief that different perspectives can come together to solve problems extremely effectively – we all look at the problems and engineering challenges in unique ways. In his spare time, Derek loves to ride his mountain bike, lounge around and terrorize his 6-year-old dog (Oso), and explore the great outdoors with his lovely wife.