Meet Our Instructors
Emily Horner is the science education facilitator at Phipps. She earned her bachelors in parks and conservation, as well as a certification in sustainability at Slippery Rock University. Emily began at Phipps the summer of 2018 as the science education intern, and started as the science education facilitator in the summer of 2019, post-graduation. She loves teaching children about the natural world, and researching new crafts to put into lessons.
Sarah Cullo is a recent graduate of John Carroll University in University Heights, OH. She graduated with an B.A. in Exercise Science. Sarah worked with John Carroll’s Athletic Office with the training staff during all four years of her tenure at JCU. She provided first aid and preventative care for JCU athletes on all of the athletic teams. At Care Alliance she found her passion for working in community health care. Ballet and movement have always been part of her life. Sarah served as a choreographer and Vice President of the JCU dance ensemble throughout college. Sarah is excited about making healthy living accessible and sustainable for families in this community through Let’s Move Pittsburgh at Phipps Conservatory.
Maris Altieri is a registered dietitian and Let's Move Pittsburgh program coordinator. From a young age, Maris has been fascinated by the social, cultural and economic context of food, which inspired her to pursue a B.S. in nutrition and dietetics at the University of Pittsburgh and a dietetic internship at the California Polytechnic State University. Throughout her undergraduate career, Maris worked with urban agriculture and nutrition education nonprofits to help tackle barriers related to food insecurity. She finds great joy in empowering families to use food as a tool to nourish the mind, body and soul.
Heather Shannon is the senior program manager of Let’s Move Pittsburgh and special programs at Phipps. Heather holds an undergraduate degree in economics and public policy from Saint Vincent College and a master's degree of education in early childhood from Carlow University. Before coming to Phipps, Heather taught preschool math and science, and was an educational project manager for early childhood schools in the Pittsburgh area.
Jennifer Torrance is the science education coordinator at Phipps. She is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating science education programming. Jennifer holds a bachelor of science in environmental science from Allegheny College. She has been sparking children’s passion for the natural world at Phipps since 2016. She loves encouraging creativity and introducing children to fascinating new concepts.
Dr. Maria Wheeler-Dubas is the science education outreach manager at Phipps. Her undergraduate degree and her doctorate are both in biology, and she has taught at both the college level and within the classrooms of zoos and museums. At Phipps, Maria coordinates science communication workshops, oversees the Botany in Action fellowship program, writes for Phipps’ #bioPGH blog, and organizes multiple regular educational events. Overall, she loves nothing more than sharing the wonders of nature with children and families.
