Our Story
Materials Girls is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2023 in Florida.
Our founder, Kate Quinlivan, was, at the time, a fourteen-year-old in high school with a growing passion for Materials Science and Engineering. While exploring her own interests in sustainability, chemistry, and engineering, Kate noticed how few girls were being encouraged to pursue STEM fields and how underrepresented women remained in scientific disciplines.
Materials Girls aims to teach young girls about an often male-dominated field of engineering: Materials Science and Engineering. The goal is to spark a passion for STEM and learning in areas where women are typically underrepresented.
Materials Girls now consists of a network of student volunteers and mentors who run interactive meetings and educational programs, introducing young learners to the joy of discovery while building confidence, enthusiasm, and representation in STEM.
Our Mission
At Materials Girls, our mission is to empower girls to explore Materials Science and Engineering and the broader implications of STEM through hands-on learning, mentorship, and creativity.
Materials Girls strives to spark lifelong curiosity in science and engineering, while also addressing the gender gap in STEM. Our goal is to equip the next generation with the skills, confidence, and representation they need to innovate and lead.
Board of Directors
Anne Personett
Anne has been in the educational field for over 20 years, first as a special education classroom teacher and currently as a one-on-one tutor. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a Masters degree in Teaching and a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Anne has always loved teaching and helping students unlock their full learning potential. In her free time, Anne enjoys running, cheering on her three children in their sports endeavors, and thrifting! She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lauren Nanna
Lauren is a Principal in M&N Development, a residential developer in Greenwich, CT. She started her career doing site plan design for commercial and residential developments in Virginia. Lauren relocated to NYC and served in Project Management for Commercial Interiors throughout the NYC Tri-State area. She then went on to work in Private Equity at General Atlantic, managing Real Estate and Administrative Operations. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia. Lauren resides in NYC with her husband and two boys.
Nicole Robison
Nicole has spent her career focused on the mission of inspiring students of all ages to pursue their passions and continually grow as learners. She is currently the Director of Professional Development for the Florida Council of Independent Schools. Prior to this position, Nicole served as the Head of Middle School and Curriculum Coordinator at St. Mark’s Episcopal School in Palm Beach Gardens. Prior to her work in leadership, Nicole taught English, with a specific concentration in writing, at the middle school and high school levels in Florida and Pennsylvania. Nicole’s love of writing came from her time working in the Writer’s Center at LaRoche University where she earned Bachelor degrees in Secondary English Education and English Language and Literature. Dedicated to ongoing professional development of others as well as herself, Nicole also holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching from Penn State.
Anne Personett Lauren Nanna Nicole Robison
