Our iSTREAM Dream Team

Dr. Theadford’s professional experience began at Lockheed Martin, in the Naval Systems Division. She left Lockheed to pursue a career in education, which allowed her to bridge a gap from theory to practice for students from primary to higher education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Dr. Theadford recently celebrated 25 years in Pre-K–12th education in the State of New Jersey. The bulk of her work has been in educational administration, with a specialty in STEM education. She is an adjunct professor who teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in teaching and learning and curriculum and instruction.

She is a founder, leader, and initiator who has worked with various nonprofits. She has served as a project manager and fundraiser which, among other responsibilities, entailed creating free summer programs for children within her community.

Lisa M. Edwards is a dedicated elementary educator with extensive experience creating positive, student-centered learning environments. Since 2012, she has taught in Kuwait, supporting students’ confidence, curiosity, and love of learning. Her earlier teaching in New Jersey strengthened her skills in differentiation, relationship building, and supporting diverse learners.

Adrian Knight is an engineering manager for the Development Environment & Infrastructure Solutions team. His team provides essential Integrated Technology support for the development of US Navy programs. He has over 24 years of experience in various roles across the US Navy, US Army, US Air Force, Missile Defense Agency, and Foreign Military Partners. Adrian has demonstrated expertise in leading cross-functional teams, systems engineering, driving innovation, and fostering creative partnerships to achieve business objectives. He has successfully managed large-scale projects, including the transition of hypersonic missile canister hardware to production and the authorship of sections of the technical volume in support of a $195M contract proposal. He holds an MBA from The College of William and Mary and a BS in Physics from Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. Adrian is a certified Lockheed Martin Qualified Systems Engineer and has completed various leadership and project management courses from different learning platforms. He has received numerous awards, including the Black Engineer of the Year Award – Modern Day Technology Leader Award in 2017 and 2022. Adrian is also actively involved in diversity and inclusion initiatives as the Moorestown Site Diversity and Inclusion Lead.

Dr. Ruff currently serves as an Associate Professor within the College of Science and Technology at Temple University, PA. In his current role, Dr. Ruff instructs Math and Science courses to matriculating undergraduate students. Employed at Temple University since 2008, Dr. Ruff has also provided ten (10) years of service as Director and Faculty Advisor of Temple University’s TUteach Program. In this role, he provided oversight of eight (8) STEM degree programs for students who aspired to become secondary level teachers in Pennsylvania Public Schools. His doctoral research cites his aspirations and work towards implementing effective and sustainable student advising metrics to support student retention and student persistence to graduation.

Dr. Ruff earned his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Temple University in May 2018. He supports his years of service in the field with a Master of Science (MS) degree in Professional Education from St. Joseph’s University (PA) and a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NY. He completed his undergraduate studies at Bloomfield College, earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sociology-Criminal Justice.

My career began at Lockheed Martin, where I worked with cutting-edge technology and saw how important STEM skills are for the future. But it wasn’t until I moved into education that I realized something deeper: many students struggle not because they lack ability, but because learning isn’t always presented in a way that feels exciting, welcoming, or achievable.

As a parent and educator, I saw firsthand how quickly children can lose confidence when subjects feel too hard or disconnected from real life. I also saw how their eyes light up when learning becomes hands-on, creative, and fun.

That’s why we created iSTREAM in 2022, to give children a place where they can explore, experiment, and discover what they’re capable of. We focus on Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, Aviation, and Innovation, because these fields open doors to the careers shaping our children’s future.

At iSTREAM, we believe every child deserves the chance to find their spark. Our programs are designed to build confidence, nurture curiosity, and help students imagine new possibilities for themselves.

Our goal is simple: help children discover pathways to bright, innovative futures.

Kevin Mingo serves as Chief Financial Officer of iSTREAM and is a Senior Internal Auditor at the State of New Jersey.

Dr. Norma Bowe has undergraduate degrees in Nursing and Community Health, a Masters in Health Administration and a Ph.D. in Community Health Policy. She began her career bringing medical care to rural areas in Fluvanna County, Virginia. She has also worked in the ICU, ER, and Hospice assisting with patients transitioning from life to death and families experiencing loss and bereavement. Later she worked as a psychiatric nurse advocate for the mentally ill.

Dr. Bowe is tenured faculty in the College of Education at Kean University in Union, N.J. She developed the course curriculum for Death in Perspective, which has a three-year waiting list and is the subject of the book The Death Class: A True Story About Life by Erika Hayasaki, a former LA Times journalist. In addition to teaching courses in death education, community mental health and public health, she is the author of Perspectives in Community Mental Health, published by Kendall Hunt. She has authored and co-authored articles as well as textbook chapters in health education.

Dr. Boadu is an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Pratt School of Engineering) and the Duke Global Health Institute at Duke University, USA. He obtained his BSc. in Civil Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Ghana), an MSc. from McGill University in Canada, and a PhD in Applied Geophysics from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).

Prof. Boadu’s research interests involve the use of geophysical methodologies for exploration and characterization of natural resources including groundwater and hydrocarbons, and for solving geotechnical engineering, agricultural, and environmental geosciences problems with implications for addressing global and public health challenges in the developing world. Prof. Boadu is an associate editor of a peer-reviewed engineering journal and a guest editor of Near Surface Geophysics for a special session on geotechnical assessment and geo-environmental engineering.