Operations Team

Meet the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council's Operations Team

The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council’s Operations Team oversees STEM in Iowa and works tirelessly to continue to advance STEM awareness and knowledge with various events, programs, and partnerships throughout the state.

Justin Lewis

Justin Lewis was appointed to the STEM Bureau Chief position with the Innovation Division of the Iowa Department of Education on March 1, 2024. Prior to this, he served for three years as the Computer Science and Information Solutions Lead at the Iowa Department of Education where he developed Iowa’s first K-12 Computer Science State Plan setting a vision, implementation strategies and goals through 2026. Justin was also a high school computer science and mathematics teacher for seven years. Out of college, he was a production manager for Hormel Foods Corporation. Justin holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Drake University. 

Contact Justin Lewis at justin.lewis@iowa.gov 

Kari Britain image

Kari Britain, MPA

Kari Britain is the senior program manager of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council operations center. As senior program manager, she is responsible for the fiscal oversight, contracts, office operations, project management and coordination of the interface of protocols, precedents, sequencing and resources in alignment with the broader vision and goals of the STEM Council. Kari brings decades of executive office management experience in both the public and private sectors. She also has academic preparation in public administration, as well as secondary education and office administration.

Contact Kari Britain at britain@iowastem.org

Tanya Hunt

Tanya Hunt

Tanya Hunt is the Program Coordinator for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. As a Project Coordinator she facilitates communication and promotion of our STEM Best programs throughout the state. Tanya has over 10 years of experience in working with the educational sector. Her specialty and background have been in facilitating and working within partnerships throughout the private and public sectors particularly in project development with school districts. Tanya obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Occupational Therapy with a focus in Child Development and Family Services.    

Contact Tanya Hunt at hunt@IowaSTEM.org

Ann Gritzner

Ann Gritzner

Ann Gritzner is the Program Coordinator for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. As a Project Coordinator she facilitates communication and promotion of our Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Programs throughout the state, as well as supporting the STEM BEST Program. Ann has over 30 years of experience in STEM education. Ann was a secondary science teacher with a passion for project based learning. She received the 2019 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, led and scaled the STEM BEST Program at Central Community School District to become a K-12 model experience in STEM for Iowa. Most recently, she was an instructional coach for PreK-12 teachers. Ann obtained a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Iowa in science education.