Vice President of Ecosystems
Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance
Dr. Emily Mortimer is a lifelong educator, STEM advocate, and champion of equitable learning ecosystems. A native of rural Missouri, she began her career in informal education at the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri, where she trained birds of prey and developed dynamic, hands-on learning experiences blending wildlife science and curriculum innovation. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Missouri State University, an M.S. in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies from Oklahoma State University, where her research focused on bridging formal and informal STEM learning environments to build educator confidence and expertise.
Emily has led statewide professional development programs such as SENSEsational Science and STEM³, connecting hundreds of educators with experiential, collaborative learning opportunities across Oklahoma. Her work brings together classroom instruction, community partnerships, and ecosystem-wide strategies to improve access and outcomes in STEM education.
Since joining the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance (TRSA) in 2016, Emily has been instrumental in expanding the organization’s reach and infrastructure. As Vice President of Ecosystems, she leads initiatives focused on out-of-school-time learning, regional workforce alignment, and TRSA’s equity-driven digital badging system. She is also a Beyond100K Fellow, working nationally to foster inclusive cultures of belonging in STEM.
Emily currently serves as Board President for the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences (TSAS) and is a board member of the Sustainability Alliance. Outside of work, she’s a triathlete, trail runner, and American Ninja Warrior competitor-in-training. She lives in Tulsa with her husband, son, and their spirited crew of dogs and cats.