CE’s team of experts brings decades of experience in classroom learning, adult education, STEM pedagogy, science communication, and workforce development into the work they perform with educators and partners. Get to know our team below and how their passion shapes our work.
Rosemary Lopez
Program Director, CE
Rosemary joined the CE team at BEF in 2021 to focus on energy curriculum, educator resources, and teacher training. She works with educators nationwide to implement programs that meet the needs of local communities and classrooms through culturally sustaining professional development.
Rosemary is a former science educator with two decades of classroom experience at the K-12 and college levels, developing curriculum focused on place-based biology, ecology and interdisciplinary sciences. She has also served as a school administrator, college counselor, curriculum specialist, and volleyball coach.
PRONOUNS:
she/her/they/them
AREAS OF FOCUS:
Pedagogy and Andragogy, Teacher Professional Development , Inquiry-Based STEM Learning and Curricular Development
FUN FACT:
Born and raised in California, Rosemary’s favorite place to be is near the ocean. She has snorkled up and down the Pacific coast with rays, sea lions, hammerheads, and whale sharks.
Loridee Wetzel
Educator Leadership Coordinator, CE
Loridee joined the Clean Energy. Bright Futures team at BEF in 2024 as the Educator Leadership Coordinator after 2 years of helping the team. They collaborate with the CE team and external partners to provide professional learning experiences for educators and coordinate educator leadership programs.
Loridee is a former youth robotics program manager with over 10 years of experience working with youth STEM education programs in formal and informal education settings. They believe that inspired kids are capable of changing the world. Before working in education, she worked as a fisheries biologist, archivist, and computer programmer.
PRONOUNS:
she/they
AREAS OF FOCUS:
Science Communication, Teacher Training, Community Engagement
FUN FACT:
Despite caring for owls, snakes, fish, a squirrel, and an assortment of domestic animals and hosting a panel that included a retired astronaut, Loridee still hasn’t achieved their childhood dream of having a zoo on the moon.