Home » Our Team
Executive Director
FOUNDER & CHIEF SCIENTIST
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Director of Program
Director of Partnerships
& Development
MANAGER OF CURRICULUM
Digital Operations Manager
Curriculum Developer
Outreach & Program Engagement Coordinator
Senior Software Engineer
Software Engineer
Program Support
Senior Graphic Designer
FOUNDER, JDK COMMS
PUBLICIST, JDK COMMS
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT & CEO, TUCSON METRO CHAMBER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FORMER MLB PLAYER, ‘06 WORLD SERIES CHAMP WITH ST.LOUIS CARDINALS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH OF FAMILIA, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EDUCATOR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT & CEO, WATERS CENTER
FOR SYSTEMS THINKING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COSTUMER STRATEGY & LOYALTY MANAGER, PWC
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, LICENSING AT ONETEAM PARTNERS, TEAM USA WOMEN’S BASEBALL PLAYER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR & VETERAN PROGRAMS, SPORTS ACADEMY
VENTURE LAB
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, FOR CATHERINE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OFFICE
Executive Director
Daren Heaton is the Executive Director of Science of Sport, leading the organization’s growth, partnerships, and programs that use sports to inspire STEM learning. He enjoys building meaningful relationships and using creativity to turn ideas into impactful experiences. Daren is passionate about helping students discover how learning connects to the games they love.
Contact Daren:
Email: daren@sciencesport.org
Manager of Curriculum
As a curriculum developer at Science of Sport, I break down the science, math, and mechanics behind sports into hands-on STEM learning experiences. When I’m not creating lessons, you’ll likely find me working on my golf swing, exploring local beaches, or traveling. I’m driven by the opportunity to use sports as a gateway to spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of STEM learners.
Contact Albert:
Email: albert@sciencesport.org
FOUNDER & CHIEF SCIENTIST
Dr. Ricardo Valerdi is the Founder and Chief Scientist of Science of Sport. He developed the Science of Baseball, Science of Soccer, Science of Basketball, and Science of Football programs in collaboration with MLB, MLS, NBA, and NCAA teams, respectively.
Dr. Valerdi received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in 2005 and was on the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 2005-2011. Since 2011, he has been a Professor of Systems and Industrial Engineering at the University of Arizona where he is also the Pac-12 Faculty Athletics Representative and the Director of the Sports Management Program at the Eller College of Management. In 2018 he was a Visiting Professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
In addition to his academic endeavors, Dr. Valerdi has been a consultant to the Department of Defense, SpaceX, and the NCAA.
Contact Ricardo:
Email: ricardo@sciencesport.org
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Meghan began her journey with Science of Sport in 2014 as a Youth Ambassador for the Arizona Diamondbacks Science of Baseball program, helping run camps & support school visits. 12 years later, as Director of Operations, she oversees the organization’s internal operations, manages board relationships & fundraising events, & develops processes that help Science of Sport operate more efficiently while expanding programs for educators & learners across the country.
Her passion for athletics and education began in her teens as a lifeguard, swim instructor, & coach, which later led to an assistant coaching position for her alma mater’s high school swim & dive team.
Meghan earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Science in Physiology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine. Outside of work, she sits on the Board of Two Pups Wellness Fund & enjoys being active in the Arizona sunshine with her dog, Cashew.
Contact Meghan:
Email: meghan@sciencesport.org
Director of Programs
Carly is a Chicago native and a proud graduate of Loyola University Chicago, where she earned her BBA in Sports Management. A lifelong sports fan—especially when it comes to soccer—Carly was an All-American and competed at the Division I level as a member of Loyola’s women’s soccer team.
After graduating, she quickly jumped into the sports world. Carly began coaching soccer and launched her professional career with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, working in community relations and game operations. She later joined a Chicago-based sports marketing agency while continuing to coach two youth girls’ soccer teams.
Now based in the Salt Lake City area, Carly has been part of the Science of Sport team since 2019 and currently serves as the Director of Program Development. In her role, she manages multiple professional sports partnerships across the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, MLS, and NWSL.
Outside of work, Carly loves spending time with her golden retriever, Bluey, coaching soccer, and being the fun aunt to her niece and nephew.
Contact Carly:
Email: carly@sciencesport.org
Director of Partnerships & Development
Jesse Lovejoy serves as Strategic and Programmatic Consultant to Science of Sport, helping guide the organization’s efforts to bring STEM education to life through sports. He facilitates the development of innovative programs and partnerships that connect athletics, learning, and community impact while supporting Science of Sport’s expansion into enrichment and out-of-school experiences that inspire curiosity and opportunity for young learners.
Contact Jesse:
Email: jesse@sciencesport.org
Senior graphic designer
After more than 12 years working for major brands in international advertising agencies, Sebastian has joined Science of Sport as Senior Designer, with the mission of turning graphic design into the catalyst for bringing science and sport together in a comprehensible, interesting, and entertaining way.
In addition to graphic design, he combines other passions such as cooking, writing, and the arts. He is a firm believer in the Growth Mindset premise: “We are a process; our self today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be even better.”
He lives with his wife Alejandra, his daughter April, and their dog, Bimbo.
Contact Sebastian:
Email: sebastian@sciencesport.org
Curriculum Support
Dave Chamberlain has worked for Science of Sport since 2015 as a curriculum writer and workshop trainer. He was a math educator in Orange County, California for 36 years, working as a middle school math teacher and a math curriculum specialist, retiring in 2023. Dave is past-president of the Orange County Math Council, and was a frequent speaker at local, state, and national math education conferences. He received the honor of being named an Orange County Teacher of the Year in 1999. Dave is an avid sports fan, working as an usher at Angel Stadium.
Contact Dave:
Email: dave@sciencesport.org
Program & Curriculum Coordinator
Kanwal Naseem coordinates outreach and program engagement, and collaborates on curriculum development. With over 12 years of experience as an educator and an advocate for educational equality, she strives to ensure that each program's benefits reach as many students and educators as possible. She’s especially passionate about making STEM education accessible and engaging for all learners.
Contact Kanwal:
Email: kanwal@sciencesport.org
Digital Operations Manager
Vicente Zarate leads Digital Operations at Science of Sport, helping connect design, development, and delivery across the team. With a PhD and more than 10 years of university teaching experience, he brings a strong education perspective to the organization and specializes in designing clear systems that help teams navigate complex work by aligning people, processes, and technology. He has loved sports, games, and technology since childhood—from physical training to video games and board games—and believes play and curiosity are powerful drivers of learning. At home, he is happily outnumbered by his two dogs, Matilda (a Labrador Retriever) and Tommy-Boy (a Pembroke Welsh Corgi).
Contact Vicente:
Email: vicente@sciencesport.org
Senior Software Engineer
Oscar Estrella is a full-stack developer with over 20 years of experience building web-based solutions. In recent years, he has specialized in artificial intelligence, focusing on creating custom ChatGPT-powered models for intelligent automation. He is passionate about turning ideas into reality, guiding projects from concept to completion with an emphasis on simplicity and creativity.
Contact Oscar:
Email: oscar@sciencesport.org
Software Engineer
Software engineer at Science of Sport, focused on building reliable and engaging digital experiences. I like building, experimenting, and shipping things that matter. Passionate about using technology to make sports and STEM education more accessible for young learners.
Contact Guillermo:
Email: guillermo@sciencesport.org
Program Support
Joey De La Rosa is an engineer, learning designer, and yoga/mindfulness coach who develops STEM-through-sports learning experiences and builds partnerships for Science of Sport. A dad of two and lifelong athlete, he loves turning everyday play into moments of curiosity and discovery. Joey is passionate about helping young people see sports as a gateway to science, confidence, and lifelong learning.
Contact Joey:
Email: joey@sciencesport.org
