Moznette appointed to lead Spokane MESA

By Communications staff, Washington State University

SPOKANE, Wash. – Joanna Moznette recently was appointed as manager of the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Spokane Center. Co-sponsored by Eastern Washington University and Washington State University Spokane, the MESA Spokane Center provides opportunities to explore STEM fields to underrepresented Spokane area students in the seventh through twelfth grades. 

“I am excited for the future of the MESA Spokane Center,” said Judy Zeiger, director of Student Affairs at WSU Spokane.  “Joanna bring excellent leadership experience and has a passion for the middle and high school students.” 

Moznette, who previously served as the program coordinator for MESA, has been with WSU Spokane since 2000. She is well known and respected in the larger Spokane community, both as an advocate for MESA and its mission and as a cheerful volunteer at many community events.

“Joanna is student centered, proactive and a conscientious builder in the Spokane education community. She is a champion for all children and a resource for the community, schools and families,” said James Dorsey, director of Washington MESA. “She shows promise and potential as a young and energetic MESA director and will be a future leader among her peers.”
In her new position, Moznette will be responsible for managing the daily operations and strategic objectives of the center’s program. This includes developing and managing middle and high school programs in the Spokane area that provide mathematics, science, and technology programs for African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, and female populations.
  

“Joanna brings a sense of excitement for the possibilities for the Spokane MESA students that is contagious,” said Ron Dalla, vice provost for Graduate Education, Research, Academic Planning and Evaluation at Eastern Washington University.

Moznette’s goals include  the successful implementation of the new MESA Math Scholars Program, a project focused on supporting in-coming MESA 9th grade students in developing their math skills. The program is funded by a grant recently awarded to Washington MESA by the Washington STEM Center.  She also plans to support the increased engagement of MESA parents/guardians and augment fundraising efforts.

Moznette earned a Master of Public Administration from Eastern Washington University in 2011 and also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology with a minor in Human Resource Management from Central Washington University.
 
She is a member of the Spokane Minority Advocacy and Resource Team (SMART) Committee and Tony Oertling Scholarship Fund Committee. As part of her work with Washington MESA, she also serves on both the Technology and Scholarship Committees.
About MESA
The goal of MESA is to provide globally competitive and individually competent students in mathematics, engineering and science with full participation of under-represented students, including African Americans, Latinos/as, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and females of all ethnicities.
 
The Spokane MESA center is one of five in the state of Washington. It was founded in 1989 and serves approximately 600 students at 7th-12th grade levels. Spokane MESA is supported by both Washington State University Spokane and Eastern Washington University to maintain a high level of service to the Spokane Public School District.