Melanie Roberts

Executive Director

Melanie Roberts is a science, technology, and innovation policy expert focused on increasing the value of science for society and civic engagement of scientists. Prior to joining the Academy in 2024, she was a senior advisor and director of state and regional affairs at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Her previous experience includes co-founding and directing a non-profit leadership and civic engagement program with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); directing strategic bioscience partnerships at the University of Colorado; and informing national science and technology policy as a fellow in the U.S. Senate and the National Science Foundation. Melanie has served on numerous advisory committees and boards including the Committee on Graduate STEM Education for the 21st Century at the National Academy of Sciences, chair of the AAAS Section on Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering, and the advisory board at the William D. Ruckelshaus Center. She is an honorary fellow of the AAAS and a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow, Puget Sound. She completed a Ph.D. in neuroscience at the University of Washington and a postdoctoral fellowship in science and innovation policy at the University of Colorado Boulder.

P. Joe conry

Program Finance Manager

P. Joe Conry is a first generation college graduate and an honors graduate from St. Louis University in the Executive Masters of International Business program. He has 32 years of finance, contracts, and program management experience including 12 years as an executive. He retired from Boeing as a Senior Director of Finance in Global Operations. Joe has a wide range of experience in finance supporting research and development, materials development, supply chain, shop floor manufacturing, cash management, facilities, and product development. One common theme is his years of experience in collaborating with engineers and scientists as a trusted finance partner to help further the scientific mission on leading-edge technologies.

Renske Dyedov

Program Director

Renske Dyedov is a trained scientist and communicator. Previously, she oversaw communications for two innovative research institutes at the University of Washington. Renske also consulted for an assortment of scientific nonprofits including Professional Development Hub – a national initiative to advance the career and professional development of PhD scientists – and Engineers and Scientists Acting Locally. Prior to that, she ran a leadership development program for graduate students hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was a Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academies. She holds a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and a BS in Chemical Biology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Donna Gerardi

Senior Advisor

Donna Gerardi joined the Academy in 2017 with three decades of experience in science policy. She served as Executive Director until 2024. With degrees from Georgetown University and George Washington University, she served for 14 years as a staff member at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., where she founded and directed its Office of Public Understanding of Science. While working on policy issues in California in the 2000s, she was the co-architect of the first state-level Science & Technology Fellows Program, which places scientists and engineers in the state legislature. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and President of the National Association of Academies of Science. She believes that Washington state is right-sized to lead the nation as a model of evidence-informed policy making.

Emma Rogers

Emma Rogers

Integration Coordinator

Emma Rogers studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, studying Urban and Environmental Policy with an emphasis in Data Science and Public Health. Her research focused on California’s climate policy with an investigation into the efficacy of strategies used to respond to climate change while advancing environmental justice. She brings organizational and analytics skills derived from experience with grassroots organizations, political campaigns and a policy focused non-profit, among others. Emma’s effective project management and communication skills have allowed her to be successful in high-paced environments, and she brings these experiences to support the vital mission of the Washington State Academy of Sciences.

Nichole Wamsley

Membership Engagement Manager

Nichole Wamsley joined WSAS as the Program Operations Manager in 2023, bringing over 13 years of experience in higher education. As a first-generation college student, she discovered the transformative power of education while earning her BA and attending graduate school at the University of Hawaii. This experience led her to serve in various roles at several distinguished professional schools, including the University of Hawaii’s School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Nichole has a strong background in coordinating programs, planning initiatives, and building relationships with faculty and scientists. She is deeply passionate about drawing out the best in others, fostering meaningful connections, and preserving and protecting the natural beauty of our state.

Work with us

We are fortunate to work with a talented group of consultants with unique skillsets that help us to advance our mission of ‘science in the service of Washington State.’