Elizabeth Bagley
Interview Posted By: Ashley Smith
1. Can you tell us a little about your background? i.e. Where you grew up, what education do you have, a summary of your resume, did you always want to do what you are doing now, when did you start to become interested in STEM, what internships/ volunteering
I grew up on a sheep farm in rural Wisconsin. I graduated with 51 other students! I attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied Zoology, Biological Aspects of Conservation and Environmental Studies. During college, I played trumpet in the marching band and spent a year studying abroad in Kenya. I had amazing summer jobs during college. My first summer, I worked as an assistant crew leader with the Minnesota Conservation Corps. I spent the summer building trails with high school students. During that experience, I decided that I wanted to be involved with science education. I spent two summers working as a park ranger, and I taught weekend science education programs to campers. I loved it! After graduating from undergrad, I joined Teach For America and taught 8-12th grade science in a rural school in South Louisiana. I learned a lot about myself, science, and science education while I was teaching, and I decided that I needed more skills to effectively teach science. So, I enrolled in a Masters program for Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development. I soon realized that I wanted to also study education, so I decided to do a joint Masters by adding an Educational Psychology degree. I studied how people learn about science and had the opportunity to design computer games for young people (mostly people in middle school, high school and early college) to learn about complex science concepts related to bio medical engineering and urban planning.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I am a Learning Designer at LeapFrog. In my role, I work with teams to create games, books and DVDs that help children learn about science. Every day is really unique at my job. Some days I spend in meetings designing science curriculum for games, and other days I meet with inventors to learn about their products.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
I use my STEM knowledge to ensure that the content of our games, books, toys and DVDs is accurate. I also use my STEM knowledge when meeting with engineers, inventors and other STEM professionals.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Not really.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
I love working with really creative, smart people. I wish that we didn't have to continually think about the market and the types of items that will sell.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
I chose to leave academia and take a job in industry so that I could have more manageable work requirements. I don't want to work on weekends or late into the evening, so I looked for a company that valued work/life balance. I'm a much better employee when I've had opportunities to recharge with my family.
7. What do you define success as?
Getting up in the morning and being excited for what is to come.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Perseverance--things don't always go as planned, and you need to keep going
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
My graduate school advisor, David Williamson Shaffer, and my boss at Disney, Lizabeth Fogel, have both been amazing mentors. They believe in me, push me, and help me navigate tricky decisions.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
Nothing obvious is coming to mind
I grew up on a sheep farm in rural Wisconsin. I graduated with 51 other students! I attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied Zoology, Biological Aspects of Conservation and Environmental Studies. During college, I played trumpet in the marching band and spent a year studying abroad in Kenya. I had amazing summer jobs during college. My first summer, I worked as an assistant crew leader with the Minnesota Conservation Corps. I spent the summer building trails with high school students. During that experience, I decided that I wanted to be involved with science education. I spent two summers working as a park ranger, and I taught weekend science education programs to campers. I loved it! After graduating from undergrad, I joined Teach For America and taught 8-12th grade science in a rural school in South Louisiana. I learned a lot about myself, science, and science education while I was teaching, and I decided that I needed more skills to effectively teach science. So, I enrolled in a Masters program for Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development. I soon realized that I wanted to also study education, so I decided to do a joint Masters by adding an Educational Psychology degree. I studied how people learn about science and had the opportunity to design computer games for young people (mostly people in middle school, high school and early college) to learn about complex science concepts related to bio medical engineering and urban planning.
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I am a Learning Designer at LeapFrog. In my role, I work with teams to create games, books and DVDs that help children learn about science. Every day is really unique at my job. Some days I spend in meetings designing science curriculum for games, and other days I meet with inventors to learn about their products.
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
I use my STEM knowledge to ensure that the content of our games, books, toys and DVDs is accurate. I also use my STEM knowledge when meeting with engineers, inventors and other STEM professionals.
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Not really.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
I love working with really creative, smart people. I wish that we didn't have to continually think about the market and the types of items that will sell.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
I chose to leave academia and take a job in industry so that I could have more manageable work requirements. I don't want to work on weekends or late into the evening, so I looked for a company that valued work/life balance. I'm a much better employee when I've had opportunities to recharge with my family.
7. What do you define success as?
Getting up in the morning and being excited for what is to come.
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Perseverance--things don't always go as planned, and you need to keep going
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
My graduate school advisor, David Williamson Shaffer, and my boss at Disney, Lizabeth Fogel, have both been amazing mentors. They believe in me, push me, and help me navigate tricky decisions.
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
Nothing obvious is coming to mind