Skip to content

We will close at 1 PM on Friday, April 26 due to wind conditions at Coyote Point. Please check our Hours & Admission page for changes to our operating hours.

STAFF

Educator Bios

  • Jessa Barzelay | Chief Programs Officer and Director of Education

    Jessa joined CuriOdyssey after 13 years in Education management and leadership at the San Francisco Zoo and San Francisco Botanical Garden. Passionate about connecting children and families to science and the nature, Jessa leads the Education Department and oversees its programs, including steering STEMCorps, a pilot program with a goal to support and empower youth from underrepresented communities to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math learning. Jessa graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a BA in Biology and University of San Francisco with a MA in Nonprofit Administration.

  • Portrait of Early Childhood Education Specialist Romina Benedict

    Romina Benedict | Early Childhood Education Specialist

    Romina majored in Biology emphasizing Zoology with a minor in Education from San Francisco State University where she joined her passions for informal education and science into one. From an early age she's always loved animals and learning, creating new projects for herself throughout her life. Prior to joining the CuriOdyssey family, she had experiences in many local scientific institutions around the Bay Area including San Francisco Zoo, the Exploratorium, and the California Academy of Sciences.

    Romina’s other interests include her love of all things Disney, house plants, and musical theater. In her free time, you can often find her playing games with friends, cuddling her pets, or taking a nap.

  • Portrait of STEM Educator Matt Naffziger

    Matt Naffziger | Education Specialist

    Matt holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Cal Poly SLO where his studies focused on the identification and taxonomical relationships of California’s plant and animal life. After graduating Matt pursued his passion for education by spending a year teaching English in South Korea. After that he spent 2 summers teaching camps at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma WA, a season as an Environmental Educator at the Alabama 4-H Center, and a year as the Education Coordinator at the Slater Museum of Natural History in Tacoma. In his free time Matt enjoys traveling new places, making fun-fact videos for his Youtube channel, and trying new foods.

  • Lanipse Rosario | Instructional Designer

    Lanipse Rosario (she/her), Instructional Designer, is passionate about using the science of learning and art to create inclusive engaging educational experiences for all. Lanipse served as a Special Education and Bilingual Science Teacher in The Bronx, NY for five years where she created and modified in-person and digital Science curricula with accessibility in mind. Most recently, Lanipse served as a Resource Specialist for Math and English in San Francisco, CA. Lanipse holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Digital Arts from Stony Brook University and a M.S. in Education with a concentration in Special Education and Bilingual Education from City College of New York. During her free time, Lanipse enjoys creating art, watching documentaries, and playing with her two cats.

CAMPS & CLASSES

Educators inspire students to think creatively, be curious, and to draw on lessons learned through their own discoveries.

Join the CuriOdyssey Community

LOCATION

1651 Coyote Point Drive
San Mateo, CA 94401
Ohlone Land Acknowledgement
650-342-7755
[email protected]

CuriOdyssey is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Tax ID 94-1262434

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The gold standard for animal care and welfare.
ASTC Member. Association of Science and Technology Centers.
Scroll To Top