Increasing diversity in STEM, especially women and girls of color and/or from low-income backgrounds. Role models, mentoring and skills-based volunteering. Experiential education and hands-on learning. Urban education. Opportunity and achievement gaps. Women and girls’ empowerment, confidence, leadership.

Lonsdale Koester was appointed the second Executive Director of Science Club for Girls in December 2014, bringing to SCFG a deep and varied background in organizational development, strategic planning, financial management and fundraising. She most recently served for four years as Chief Financial Officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs. Prior to that, Ms. Koester held several roles in Governor Deval Patrick's administration and both gubernatorial campaigns, as well as the United Way of America and Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation's oldest and largest children's literacy nonprofit. Ms. Koester holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a B.A. from the University of the South (Sewanee). She is a board member of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and of Boston's landmark Trinity Church on Copley Square. Science Club for Girls envisions catalyzing a fully diverse and inclusive STEM community. Its mission is "to foster excitement, confidence, and literacy in STEM for girls, particularly from under-represented communities, by providing free, experiential programs and by maximizing meaningful interactions with women mentors in science, technology, engineering & mathematics.