Dr. Tam O'Shaughnessy is cofounder of Sally Ride Science and executive director of Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego. Tam grew up in California and played professional tennis from 1971 to 1974. She later earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology from Georgia State University and a Ph.D. in school psychology from the University of California, Riverside.

Tam has written 13 science books for children, including six with Sally Ride. They received the American Institute of Physics Children's Science Writing Award in 1995 for The Third Planet. In 2015 Tam published Sally Ride: A Photobiography of America's Pioneering Woman in Space. It was nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature.

As a scientist and educator, Tam became concerned about the underrepresentation of women in science and technical professions. In 2001, Sally, Tam, and three friends—Karen Flammer, Terry McEntee, and Alann Lopes—founded Sally Ride Science to try to narrow the gender gap in science. Tam served as the company's chief creative officer, guiding creation of the Cool Careers in STEM and Key Concepts in Science programs. She was also chief operating officer from 2009 to 2013, chair of the Board of Directors from 2013 to 2015, and chief executive officer from 2014 to 2015.

The University of California, San Diego, acquired Sally Ride Science in October 2015 and named Tam executive director of the resulting nonprofit organization. Tam also serves as a member of the Advisory Board for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

Dr. Edward Abeyta is the associate dean for education and community outreach at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. He has a B.A. from the University of New Mexico, an M.A. from the University of San Diego, and a Ph.D. in post-secondary adult education from Capella University. Edward has been recognized by UC San Diego and the UC Office of the President for his involvement in staff diversity and development initiatives. In 2008 Edward was selected to a two-year term as staff advisor to The Regents. He has served on the UC Diversity Commission, Post-Retirement Task Force, and The Regents' UC Commission on the Future.

Edward founded the University of California STEAM Channel. He is active in the San Diego community as a trustee of the San Diego Youth Symphony and a founding board member of the San Diego Urban Discovery Academy charter school. He is deeply involved in programs serving foster youth and veterans, and other youth development programs.

Morgan Appel is Assistant Dean for Education and Community Outreach at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, serving as its chief administrator. Appel oversees a diverse array of professional development programming for programs for practitioners and clinicians. He served in the same capacity at the Division of Continuing Education UC Irvine Extension following a research appointment at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UCI. With expertise in education transformation and policy, Appel worked with a number of school districts and research institutes to explore the impacts of legislated and organically generated change agentry in PK-postsecondary.

A specialist in gifted education; arts integration; and the socio-affective domain, Appel teaches a variety of courses at both UC San Diego and UC Irvine. He is a widely published author and presenter at conferences and other venues. Appel lives in San Diego, California, with his wife Catherine and their dog Jonathan Fitzgerald.

Maysoon Dong is the Director for Education and Community Outreach. She has worked for UC San Diego in a variety of different capacities for over 7 years. Prior to working with UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, she was the Assistant Director of the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) program at the Jacobs School of Engineering. She also worked in the Division of Biological Sciences as a Program Coordinator, developing and maintaining continuing education programs for professionals in the field of biotechnology. Maysoon received her B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from UC San Diego and received her M.S. in Economics from Boston University.

Megan Lancaster is a dynamic and accomplished leader serving as Assistant Director within UC San Diego Extended Studies' Education and Community Outreach department. With expertise in strategic planning, program development, and outcome-driven evaluation, Megan spearheads initiatives that deliver transformative academic and enrichment opportunities, equipping students to excel in collegiate and professional pursuits.

Before joining UC San Diego, Megan was the Program Supervisor for the Viejas Tribal Education Center, where she played a pivotal role in advancing educational programs tailored to the community's unique needs. Her extensive experience also includes teaching across K-12 levels in both public and private schools in the San Diego area, showcasing her versatility and commitment to educational excellence.

Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from San Diego State University, along with a Single-Subject Teaching Credential in Social Science, a Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential, and a Master of Arts in Education from Azusa Pacific University. Her comprehensive academic background and dedication to student success make her a respected voice in the field of education and community outreach.

Nadia Ortega is a Program Manager in UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies’ Education and Community Outreach department. She has also served as a Program Assistant for the Pre-College programs, advising and guiding students and parents on the Research Scholars and LAUNCH programs. Nadia received a B.A in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara in June 2021. Nadia has previously worked with UCSB’s Educational Opportunity Program as a Peer Mentor, providing academic advising and holistic support for first generation undergraduate students.

 Margaret King was senior science editor and writer at Sally Ride Science from 2009 to 2015, when Sally Ride Science became part of UC San Diego. Margaret helped create books and teacher guides that presented science concepts and profiled notable scientists with the goal of awakening students’ interest in science careers. Before joining Sally Ride Science, she worked at The San Diego Union-Tribune in a variety of editing positions, including as politics editor and editor of the “Quest” science section. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, with a double major in English and history and her master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Melissa Realegeno received a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Northridge in 2015 and a Master’s in Postsecondary Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Student Affairs from San Diego State University in May 2019. Melissa has worked in Student Affairs since 2015 and enjoys working in a college setting. She is happy to be part of the ECO team in supporting K-12 students eager to continue their education. Melissa has worked in areas that serve students with disabilities, worked with over 300 student organizations, coordinated peer programs and countless events throughout the years as well as supervised undergraduate interns.