Meet the Staff
Faculty
Haakon Aasan (Physics of Roller Coasters)
Haakon Aasan is a co-instructor of the Physics of Roller Coasters class with Bruce Cameron. He has more than 8 years of experience as a science teacher for the Northshore School District. He has a Master in Teaching from the University of Washington and a B.S. in Environmental Science from Western Washington University.
Jeff Armentrout (Physics of Roller Coasters)
Jeff Armentrout is a co-instructor of the Physics of Roller Coasters class with Burton Barrager. Jeff teaches 8th grade Earth Science at Canyon Park Junior High School in the Northshore School District. He has 11 years of experience teaching Earth Science, Physical Science and Math. Jeff has a Master in Teaching degree from the University of Washington.
Burton Barrager (Physics of Roller Coasters)
Burton is a co-instructor in the Physics of Roller Coasters class with Jeff Armentrout. He teaches 7th grade Life Science and 8th grade Earth Science for the Northshore School District at Leota Junior High in Woodinville, WA. Burton has a Bachelor of Science degree in Oceanography and a Master in Teaching degree, both from the University of Washington. He also earned National Board Certification for Professional Teaching Standards in 2006.
Breanna Binder (To the Moon and Beyond!)
Breanna is a doctoral candidate in the University of Washington Astronomy Department. She has a master’s degree in Astronomy from the University of Washington and an undergraduate degree in Physics/Astrophysics from the University of California, San Diego. In her free time, she likes to run, play with her dog, and craft.
Heather Brown (The Incredible World of Plants)
Heather is a Biology instructor at Seattle University and a Postdoctoral Researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She has an undergraduate degree in Zoology from Washington State University and a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Washington. In her free time, she likes to hike, cook and play Ultimate Frisbee.
Robin Burn (Energy)
Robin Burn has more than 15 years of experience as a Middle School science teacher. She has a Masters of Education, Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle Pacific University and a B.A. in Biology from Western Maryland College. She has also served as the Competitive Math Team Coach for East Ridge Elementary and the Science Club Advisor for Tolt Jr./Sr. High School.
Bruce Cameron (Physics of Roller Coasters)
Bruce Cameron is a co-instructor for the Physics of Roller Coasters class with Haakan Aasan. He has a B.S. in Oceanography and a Master in Teaching from the University of Washington. Bruce currently teaches science to energetic 9th graders at Canyon Park Junior High in Bothell.
Abby Crossen (Next City)
Abby Crossen has worked and studied in the world of Built Environments education for the last thirteen years. She holds a Bachelors of Architecture degree from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Education in Instructional Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In her role as Assistant Dean for College Affairs, UW College of Built Environments, she works on K-12 educational outreach. The past two summers she has collaborated with the Seattle Art Museum on architecture programming for teens.
Peter Donaldson (Chemistry, Ecology, Drama–Puget Sound in the Year 2050)
Peter Donaldson is a master storyteller, educator, and community organizer who tours the Pacific Northwest in two one-man shows: “Leonardo da Vinci,” and “Salmonpeople.” Mr. Donaldson’s “Leonardo” was recently staged at the State Theater in Olympia. He received the national award for Youth Theater Director of the Year from the American Alliance for Theater and Education in 1991, and has over 25 years’ experience as a curriculum designer and teacher of teachers, creating numerous public school partnerships integrating history, science, economics and civics through theater, dance, drawing, and writing. For more information about Peter, visit his website.
Lindsay Erickson (Math Topics B)
Lindsay is a PhD student in the University of Washington Mathematics department. She has a master’s degree in Mathematics from UW and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from New York University in New York City. She grew up in Minnesota. Lindsay has been a teaching assistant and instructor in the Mathematics department since 2009, and relishes the opportunity to help students see how neat math is. When she’s not learning about math, Lindsay enjoys reading and listening to orchestra and piano music. She also likes to bike around Seattle and cook exciting new meals.
Jeramy Gee (Inquiring Minds)
Jeramy Gee is a third year graduate student in the University of Washington’s Philosophy department where he is looking for a dissertation topic. Jeramy’s philosophical interests lie primarily in ethics, ancient philosophy, philosophy of science, and philosophy of religion. His other interests include all things outdoors, bow-making and archery, boxing, and medieval European martial systems. No stranger to education, Jeramy previously taught high school Biology and General Science and he is also an instructor at Sylvan Learning Center. This is his second year teaching for Summer Challenge.
Mia Ayumi Malhotra (Word B)
Mia is an acting instructor at the University of Washington, where she teaches poetry to students in the creative writing program. She has taught creative and expository writing in a variety of contexts, including the Stanford Anthology for Youth and the Stanford Asian American Writers Workshop. She holds an MFA in Poetry from UW and a BA from Stanford University, where she studied creative nonfiction and fiction writing.
Sarah Kate Moore (Word A)
Sarah Kate has an MFA in poetry from the University of Washington and is currently a graduate student in the UW’s English department. She studies medieval literature and religion, but her academic and personal interests are very broad—she especially loves to read, think and write about world cultures, poetry and the arts (including visual culture, music, and dance). Sarah Kate has taught for Summer Challenge for a number of years.
Dr. Fritzie Reisner (Math Topics A)
Dr. Fritzie Reisner is the Math Curriculum Specialist for Advanced Learning in the Seattle School District. Her long career in teaching has included positions at both UC Berkeley and the University of Washington teaching graduate level statistics and quantitative modeling to students in professional schools, teaching in the Accelerated Progress Program at Lowell Elementary and Washington Middle School, and coaching math teachers at Washington and Lowell who teach highly gifted students. Fritzie is passionate about helping young people experience the beauty of mathematics, particularly in the context of solving complex problems that may be “off the beaten path”. Professionally she is a specialist in the mathematically gifted adolescent.
Ann Wicklund (Energy)
Ann is a science, math, and engineering teacher at North Lake Middle School. She has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and a Master in Teaching, also from the University of Washington. In her free time she likes to run, ride bikes, and scrapbook.
Teaching Assistants
TA’s are typically University of Washington undergraduate students.
Staff
Dr. Maren Halvorsen is the Associate Director and Principal for Summer Programs and the Principal of the Transition School. Dr. Halvorsen received her Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington in 2002 with a focus on Early Modern Europe, with special interest in medieval and early modern spirituality. She has taught numerous courses for the UW Department of History, ranging from freshmen general education classes to advanced senior seminars. She joined the Robinson Center in 1990.
Kristy Carter is the Program Coordinator for the Transition School and Summer Programs. She joined the Robinson Center in January 2010, coming from the Provost’s Office here at the UW. Her previous experience includes four years working for the World Affairs Council in Seattle and two years living and teaching English in Japan.