Our Board Members


Larry Johnson, Ph.D.
Dr. Larry Johnson is Founder and CEO of EdFutures, a US-based 501(c)3 not-for-profit with a focus on education across the globe. EdFutures continuously charts new ideas and emerging technologies, looking for those that could have far-reaching impact on learning - and especially those with high potential for positive disruption or strategic advantage. A noted speaker, writer, and visionary, Johnson is an acknowledged expert on emerging technology and its impacts on society and education, and has delivered more than 250 keynote addresses to a long list of distinguished groups and organizations all over the world. In 2015, he was named as one of the "Top 50 Influencers" on education in the Asia Pacific region. 

Derron Coles, Ph.D.
Dr. Derron Coles is a learning and training development consultant adept at transforming complex learning objectives into streamlined and practical curriculum that meet individual and organizational goals. In his previous role as Head Mathematics Professor for the Educational Opportunities Program at Oregon State University, Derron developed enhancement programming to support the retention of underrepresented students. His Ph.D. in engineering and strong focus on equity informed his 13 years of mentoring students of color, teaching mathematics, and leading diversity initiatives at OSU.

Joe Cone
Joe Cone is Assistant Director and Communications Leader, Oregon Sea Grant and holds adjunct professor status in three departments at Oregon State University. He has expertise in many media, including books, photographs and video, radio and podcasts and conducts research in the area of environmental communication.
Spencer Crew, Ph.D.
Spencer Crew has worked in public history institutions for more than twenty-five years.  He served as president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for six years and worked at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution for twenty years.  Nine of those years he served as the director of NMAH. 

Matt Donahue, MBA
Matt Donahue is currently a public finance underwriter with D.A. Davidson and the chairman of the Oregon Governor’s task force on state funding and school district capital projects. He has an MBA from Yale University, with a focus on finance and non-profit management.
Lauren Moreno
Lauren Moreno is currently the director of strategic partnerships and programs at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). She specializes in leading coalitions of stakeholders toward envisioning, funding, and implementing strategic projects and initiatives. Lauren’s belief in the value of partnerships between museums and their local scientific communities focuses much of her work on engaging the public with current research and advancing OMSI’s partnerships with universities.
Tom Owen
Tom Owen is currently the Vice President at PGAV Destinations.Tom provides strategic insights and creative leadership for a wide range of cultural institutions. In his 30 year career as a planner and designer of destinations, Tom has used his passion for translating stories of nature, history, and culture into engaging guest experiences for Kennedy Space Center, Georgia Aquarium, Biltmore Estate, Brookfield Zoo, National Geographic, SeaWorld, and the Alamo. Tom holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre Arts from the Conservatory at Webster University in Saint Louis, where he focused on set design and lighting. 
Marsha Semmel
Marsha currently is the Principal at Marsha Semmel Consulting, Inc. Marsha has worked in and for museums since 1975, dedicating her career to encouraging museums to be responsive and supportive leaders in their communities. An advisor for the Noyce Leadership Institute, Marsha served as Director for the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the Institute for Museum and Library Services. She has also served on the Board of the American Association of Museums. Prior to working in Washington, DC, Marsha was President of the Women of the West Museum and President and CEO of Conner Prairie Living History Museum.
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