Arizona Science Center elected three new members to its Board of Trustees: Carlos Contreras, Rowan Smith and Shayna Fernandez Watts.

The new trustees are an integral part of a 54-member board that is considered to be strong for both its depth and diversity of talent and resources.

“Arizona Science Center is poised to experience significant growth over the next several years as guided by our 2020 Strategic Vision,”  stated Chevy Humphrey, The Hazel A. Hare President & CEO of Arizona Science Center. “These individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise in their respective fields and will be tremendous assets to us as we further our mission to inspire, educate and engage curious minds through science.”

  • Carlos Contreras is the regional public affairs director for Arizona and Latin America at Intel. As a third-generation engineer, he has built a career focused on technology, creation and community. Under his current role, he oversees a team responsible for community engagement, government affairs and communication strategy for sites in Arizona, California, Austin, Costa Rica and Guadalajara. He worked directly for Sally Ride and Craig Barrett on President Obama’s STEM Initiative, Change the Equation, and served as a STEM Education Industry Advisor for the National Governors Association, National Teachers Association and White House Science Fair.
  • Rowan P. Smith is a partner at Quarles & Brady. He provides business-sensitive counseling in areas of technology and intellectual property law, include patent persecution, copyright and trademark registration, licensing and technology-related transactions. He is a graduate of Arizona State University with a B.S. in electrical engineering and a Juris Doctorate from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
  • Shayna Fernandez Watts is an associate with Ballard Spahr. She manages all aspects of litigation, including dispositive motions, discovery, and court appearances from the initial filing of a complaint through resolution. Her practice includes both Arizona state and federal litigation. She has a B.A. from Stanford University, an M.Ed. from the University of Texas, and a J.D. from the University of Arizona. She was also named a Southwest Rising Star 2012-2016 by Super Lawyers.

“The talent, expertise and energy that Carlos, Rowan and Shayna bring to the table are exactly what we require in order to continue advancing Arizona Science Center as the premiere resource for informal science learning for our state,” said Barbara Lockwood, vice president of Regulation with Arizona Public Service and the first female scientist to serve as Chair of the Center’s Board of Trustees. “We are honored to have such high-caliber individuals dedicated to helping the Center advance our mission.”

It is the Board’s responsibility to provide counsel and guidance in the direction and operation of Arizona Science Center as well as it is to raise awareness of the Center’s programs and services to the surrounding communities.