Our Mission
The mission of Letters to a Pre-Scientist is to facilitate one-on-one connections to humanize STEM professionals, demystify STEM career pathways, and inspire all students to explore a future in STEM.
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Copy-of-IMG_3997-1024x768.jpg)
Humanize STEM professionals
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/5-1-1024x681.jpg)
Demystify STEM career pathways
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Image-from-iOS-11-1024x768.jpg)
Broaden students’ awareness of who can become a STEM professional
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Image-from-iOS-317-1024x768.jpg)
Inspire students’ curiosity about a future in STEM
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Copy-of-247342_865383712238_29700337_41995342_1556118_n.jpg)
History
LPS was founded in 2010 as a classroom project in rural North Carolina for 100 curious students whose teacher recognized that their lack of access to STEM role models and narrow vision of what it meant to be a scientist was preventing them from seeing STEM careers as realistic options despite their enthusiasm in science class. The snail mail model was selected because it is low cost, accessible worldwide, and a unique way to facilitate human connection.
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Copy-of-247342_865383712238_29700337_41995342_1556118_n.jpg)
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_0005-e1626365119461-1024x685.png)
Challenges of low-income schools
In the words of an LPS teacher, “Students often view scientists as people who are inaccessible. They see portrayals of them in the media, but they don’t usually know any real scientists and – by extension – don’t often see themselves in the role of being a scientist.”
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Image-from-iOS-15.jpg)
Our Values
Letters to a Pre-Scientist is committed to supporting all aspects of diversity in STEM and ensuring an inclusive environment that is welcoming to everyone who interacts with our programs. This includes, but is not limited to, treating pen pals from different races, ethnicities, cultures, languages, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities with respect. We strive to maintain a culture where everyone who participates in Letters to a Pre-Scientist feels supported by the program to be their full selves.
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Image-from-iOS-15.jpg)
Meet Our Staff
Click headshot for bio
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Headshot.jpg)
Lucy Madden
Founding Chief Executive Officer
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CE84C715-0A19-4070-97F5-141C2BF31952_1_201_a.jpg)
Lex Long
Program Manager
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/jennelle-cropped.jpg)
Jenelle Dozier
Senior Program Manager
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/anna-cropped.jpg)
Anna Goldstein
Founder; Board of Directors
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/uche-lps-cropped.jpg)
Uche Amaechi
Board of Directors
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/katie-cropped.jpg)
Katie Stofer
Board of Directors
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AnnaHarley-Trochimczyk-cropped.jpg)
Anna Harley-Trochimczyk
Board of Directors
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IMG_7684-1.jpg)
Kevin Cape
Board of Directors
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Martin_Njoroge.jpg)
Martin Njoroge
Board of Directors
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/rosen.jpg)
Alexandra Rosen (Brumberg)
Board of Directors
![](https://prescientist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Martin_Njoroge.jpg)
Martin Njoroge
Board of Directors