In today’s episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM, Kathy and Linda sit down with environmental engineer and river guide Mishael Umlor — a woman who pressed pause on her engineering career to live a year of adventure, intention, and joy.

Kathy first met Mishael this summer while rowing through the Grand Canyon on a 14-day paddle trip. What began as a passing “Wait… you’re an engineer?” moment turned into months of wanting to learn more about her unconventional, intentional path. Today, you’ll hear that full story.

About Mishael Umlor

Mishael holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental engineering and worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on hydrology, water quality, and river systems modeling. After earning her PE, she made the bold decision to step away for a year to travel, guide rivers, reconnect with family, and build a life that aligns with her values.

During her year away she:

• Guided rafting trips in the Grand Canyon
• Traveled for six weeks in Belize — where she and her husband had their wedding attire custom-designed
• Rode motorcycles through Central America
• Spent months backcountry camping in Baja
• Completed a five-week ski tour using a DIY truck camper
• Visited family across the Midwest
• Got married
• And reconnected with the outdoors in ways that shape the next chapter of her engineering career

Her story is a powerful example of designing a life with intentionality, courage, and creativity.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• How Mishael discovered environmental engineering through community college and a love of math
• Her experience working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Taking a year off after earning her PE — what she learned and how she made it possible
• The logistics and finances of long-term travel and seasonal living
• River guiding, safety stories, and what it’s really like flipping a fully loaded kitchen boat in the Grand Canyon
• Finding balance between a technical career and a passion-driven outdoor lifestyle
• What she wants her engineering career to look like next — and how she plans to blend contract work and river-based fieldwork
• The beauty of creating a life you actually want (even when it doesn’t look like the traditional path)

Why You’ll Love This Episode

Mishael’s story is a refreshing and inspiring look at the many ways women in STEM can shape careers that don’t fit into boxes. Her honesty about fear, joy, logistics, and dreams makes this a conversation that will resonate with anyone rethinking their own path — whether early, mid, or late career.

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Email us at OrdinarilyExtraordinaryPod@gmail.com

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In this special episode, Kathy and her co-host Linda sit down for a heartfelt conversation about the release of Kathy’s brand-new Women in STEM Coloring Book—a three-year passion project created in collaboration with her daughter, Emily. This book showcases contemporary women in STEM, brought to life through hand-drawn illustrations and inspiring biographies.

Kathy shares the story behind the book, why representation of real, modern women in STEM matters, and how her daughter’s artwork brings these stories to life. They talk through favorite pages, the women featured, the challenges and joys of self-publishing, and the importance of normalizing women in STEM from an early age.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or someone passionate about STEM advocacy, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look into creating a resource designed to inspire the next generation.

In This Episode We Discuss:

• The origin and three-year journey of creating the Women in STEM Coloring Book
• Why showcasing contemporary women—not just historical figures—is so important
• The need to normalize women in STEM roles for both girls and boys
• How Emily created 31 hand-drawn illustrations and character pages
• Favorite featured women:
  • A bat scientist
  • A glaciologist
  • A crash test engineer
  • A satellite communications engineer
  • A code breaker
• How the biographies and real photos in the back bring authenticity to the book
• The process and unexpected challenges of self-publishing through Amazon KDP
• Kathy’s experience approaching local stores and embracing the identity of “author”
• A fun sidebar about Linda’s granddaughter writing and illustrating her own books
• What comes next as the book launches during holiday season

About the Book

STEM Super Stars: Women of Today Changing the World
A beautifully illustrated coloring book featuring 25 real women working in STEM fields today. Perfect for kids, classrooms, and anyone who wants to see more representation in science and technology.

✔ 31 single-sided coloring pages
✔ Science, Technology, Engineering, Math & “Other” categories
✔ Real photos and biographies of every woman featured
✔ Hand-drawn illustrations by Emily Nelson
✔ Created in Minnesota and inspired by women making real impact across the globe

Buy the Book

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2YSJ9XW
Bulk or Educational Orders: Contact Kathy at kathy@kathykalenelson.com for information

Credits

• Hosted by: Kathy Nelson & Linda LaTourelle
• Produced by: Ordinarily Extraordinary Podcast
• Music: Custom intro/outro by Kay Paulus

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In this inspiring and deeply human episode, Kathy and Linda sit down with Amanda Mavropoulis, a global project and portfolio management leader in technology including 15 years in the electric utility space, and one extraordinary career pivot.

Amanda shares her unconventional STEM journey—from early days taking apart alarm clocks, to working in IT as a student worker, to a long career in utilities, and ultimately into her “unicorn job” at a major tech company. Along the way, she opens up about her unexpected breast cancer diagnosis, navigating treatment after leaving a longtime job, and the clarity and boldness it brought to her next steps.

This conversation is filled with humor, wisdom, honesty, and plenty of laughs as Amanda, Kathy, and Linda reflect on career longevity, teamwork, life detours, and why sometimes you just have to “science the hell out of it.”

Topics We Cover

• A full-circle reconnection: How Linda and Amanda met during a massive utility system conversion—and why team culture matters.
• Life in a global tech environment: Agile management, nonstop meetings, time zones, boundaries, and protecting heads-down time.
• Finding balance: Hybrid work, maintaining work–life separation, setting expectations, and empowering teams.
• Career pivoting after 15 years in utilities: What it’s like to be “new again” in a fast-paced tech company.
• Breast cancer survival and perspective shifts: How Amanda approached treatment, resilience, and redefining what she wanted out of life.
• Unicorn jobs: Applying for stretch roles, building confidence, and not letting fear stop you.
• STEM pathways that aren't linear: Environmental science beginnings, early IT work, accidental opportunities, and embracing unexpected journeys.
• Hiring challenges today: Entry-level roles requiring experience, the impact of layoffs, and navigating the job market as a new grad.
• Diversity of thought & representation in tech: Why it matters and what Amanda sees in her new workplace.

About Amanda Mavropoulis

Amanda is a technical project and portfolio management leader with a BS in Environmental Studies from Texas A&M, an MS from Walden University, and three decades in the IT and utility sectors. She’s known for her leadership, empathy, ability to build strong teams, and her passion for mentoring women entering STEM fields. She’s also a breast cancer survivor whose resilience fueled her leap into a dream role in global technology.

Connect with the Podcast

We’d love to hear from you!
Have a question, comment, or want to submit your own “Ask the Not-Expert” question?

• Email: ordinarilyextraordinarypod@gmail.com
• Website & Voicemail: ordinarilyextraordinary.com

Music by Kay Paulus

Follow Kay on Instagram @kaypaulus8

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In this bonus, Halloween and Bat Week episode, we talk with Dr. Kristen Lear, a bat conservation scientist, National Geographic Explorer, and If/Then® Ambassador whose lifelong passion for misunderstood creatures turned into a career protecting bat populations around the world.

Kristen shares how a childhood Girl Scout project building bat houses led her to a career at Bat Conservation International (BCI), where she now directs the Agave Restoration Initiative—a binational program supporting endangered nectar-feeding bats and the ecosystems (and tequila plants!) they rely on.

With contagious enthusiasm, Kristen explains how she uses infrared cameras, environmental DNA (eDNA), and community partnerships to track and protect migratory bats across Mexico and the U.S. Southwest. The conversation covers everything from bat “supermoms” and nocturnal fieldwork to tequila, rabies myths, and why bats are vital pollinators and pest controllers.

They also discuss Girl Scouts as a gateway to STEM, Bat Week (the annual celebration leading up to Halloween), and Kristen’s mission to make the world a friendlier place for these essential — and often misunderstood — creatures.

💡 Topics We Cover

• How Kristen’s childhood love of “underdog animals” led to a career in bat conservation
• Her early Girl Scout project building bat houses and creating a “Go Batty!” patch
• What bat scientists actually do in the field — from mist nets to infrared tech
• Using eDNA (environmental DNA) to track migrating bats through agave plants and hummingbird feeders
• The relationship between bats, agave, and the tequila industry
• Debunking myths about bats and rabies
• How to humanely remove a bat from your house
• What it’s like to work nights studying nocturnal animals
• Girl Scouts, mentorship, and how Kristen’s mom inspired her confidence
• Kristen’s work as an If/Then Ambassador and National Geographic Explorer
• Why Bat Week matters — and how you can get involved

🌎 Resources & Links

• Bat Conservation International: www.batcon.org
  
  
• Bat Week: www.batweek.org
  
  
• If/Then® Initiative: www.ifthen.org
  
  
• Follow Dr. Kristen Lear: LinkedIn – Kristen Lear
  
  

🧠 Key Takeaways

• You can make a career out of your childhood passion — even bats!
• Conservation is as much about people and partnerships as it is about science.
• Technology like infrared imaging and DNA sampling are transforming wildlife research.
• Myths about bats are being replaced with understanding — thanks to scientists like Kristen.
• Supporting pollinators helps protect ecosystems and local economies.

Music by Kay Paulus

Follow Kay on Instagram @kaypaulus8

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In this episode, Kathy and Linda talk with Catherine Jackson Jones, a coach and mentor with the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding STEM opportunities for students and empowering educators to bring real-world STEM experiences into classrooms across the country.

Catherine shares how NMSI builds awareness and access to STEM fields, particularly for students in under-resourced and rural communities. Through long-term partnerships with school districts, NMSI provides professional development for teachers and administrators, helping them integrate critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills into every subject. Catherine explains how the initiative creates lasting change by training educators to sustain programs long after NMSI’s involvement, ensuring equity and opportunity for all students.

Catherine also opens up about her personal journey — growing up in poverty, being the first in her family to graduate college, and how a single teacher’s belief in her changed the trajectory of her life. That experience fuels her passion for helping students see their own worth and possibilities, no matter where they come from.

Together, they explore:

• How NMSI supports teachers and districts to create engaging, hands-on STEM learning
• The importance of exposure, opportunity, and representation in STEM education
• The ripple effect one teacher or mentor can have on generations of learners
• How engagement and curiosity transform learning environments
• Breaking cycles of poverty through education and belief in possibility

Ask the (Not) Expert

A listener asks:

Catherine shares her teacher’s perspective: divide responsibilities clearly, let everyone choose their section, and document who’s responsible for what. That way, teachers can fairly assess individual contributions — a real-world lesson in accountability and teamwork.

Rapid Fire Questions

• Favorite STEM book: Alchemy of the Mind, by Diane Ackerman
• Favorite college course: Shakespeare with Dr. Rey
• Best advice ever received: “You’re bigger than the moments that surround you.” – Theresa Smith, the teacher who changed her life

Episode Takeaway

Catherine’s story is a testament to the power of education, mentorship, and believing in others. Her passion for teaching — and for helping students realize their potential — reminds us that opening even one door can change entire families and communities.

Learn More

Visit the National Math and Science Initiative at www.nms.org
to learn how to get involved, support programs, or explore partnership opportunities.

Music by Kay Paulus

Follow Kay on Instagram @kaypaulus8

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In this episode, Kathy and Linda talk with Manyphay Viengkham, an accomplished technology leader whose career spans energy innovation, systems engineering, and entrepreneurship. With degrees in biochemistry and computer science, Manyphay has built a career defined by curiosity, continuous learning, and resilience—navigating roles in major companies like GE and Honeywell before launching her own consulting business.

Together, they explore:

• How following her curiosity led from science to technology to energy innovation
• The importance of personal resilience and adaptability in career transitions
• Lessons learned from working across IT, OT, and product management
• Building a strong professional network and personal brand that opens doors
• The ups and downs of starting her own business—and finding joy in the process
• Why compassion, authenticity, and professionalism are essential leadership traits
• Learning to speak up and show your expertise, especially when underestimated

The episode wraps with their “Ask the (Not) Expert” segment, where Kathy, Linda, and Manyphay discuss handling assumptions in the workplace—like being mistaken for administrative staff—and how to respond with confidence and professionalism.

Key Takeaways

• Your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line—curiosity creates opportunity.
• Resilience and adaptability matter as much as technical skill.
• Building genuine relationships can define your career success.
• Authentic leadership blends confidence with compassion.
• Taking the leap into entrepreneurship can be both empowering and fulfilling.
• Manyphay's planned book has become a blog which can be found on Substack here: https://substack.com/@manyphay

Acronym Glossary

• AMI – Advanced Metering Infrastructure
• SCADA – Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
• IoT – Internet of Things
• IT – Information Technology
• OT – Operational Technology
• HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

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In this episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary – Conversations with Women in STEM, Kathy and Linda sit down with Lawanda Parnell, a retired technology and utility leader whose career began at IBM in the early 1980s and spanned decades of innovation and leadership.

Lawanda shares her journey from studying business administration with a strong math and computer science foundation at the University of Florida, to becoming one of the few Black women in tech during her era, to leading large-scale projects in the utility industry.

She reflects on:

• Transitioning from IBM into the utility sector and the challenges of large-scale software implementations.
• How her love of math, particularly calculus, shaped her career path.
• The importance of mentors and sponsors, including those who encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree.
• Building strong, diverse teams and the value of hiring people smarter than yourself.
• Overcoming the fear of public speaking as an introverted techie.
• Her perspective on management versus technical career paths and advice for navigating that choice.
• Why utilities need to do a better job of marketing themselves to the next generation of STEM professionals.

The conversation also dives into listener advice questions, covering:

• Should you move into management if you love technical work?
• What to do if your company offers to pay for grad school in a field you don’t love.

Lawanda’s story is one of resilience, lifelong learning, and the joy of finding passion in work while paving the way for future generations.

About Lawanda:
Lawanda Parnell is a retired technology and utility leader whose career began at IBM and later spanned leadership roles in the energy sector, including CPS Energy and Pedernales Electric Cooperative. With a background in business and computer science, she combined her love of math and technology with strong project management skills to lead large-scale IT transformations and mentor future STEM professionals.

Want to ask a question for our new advice segment?

• Leave us a voicemail through our website www.ordinarily-extraordinary.com
• Or email: ordinarilyextraordinarypod@gmail.com

Music by Kay Paulus

Follow Kay on Instagram @kaypaulus8

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After almost a year away, Ordinarily Extraordinary: Conversations with Women in STEM is back — and we’re relaunching with something new: a co-host!

In this episode, Kathy is joined by her longtime friend and new co-host, Linda LaTourelle, to talk with Stacy Cluff, IT and Broadband Manager at Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative. Stacy has worked at Mille Lacs for 28 years, wearing many hats in technology, IT, and now leading the co-op’s broadband program — bringing critical fiber broadband service to rural Minnesota communities.

What We Talk About

• Why Kathy took a break from the podcast and what’s new in the relaunch
• Linda’s background in utility technology and excitement for co-hosting
• Stacy’s career journey from paralegal studies to becoming a leader in IT and broadband
• What it’s like to manage fiber projects, grant funding, and IT at a small electric co-op
• Balancing career, education, and raising a family — and advice for women considering going back to school
• The importance of broadband in rural areas and the impact it has on communities
• The challenges of stepping out of your comfort zone to speak up, network, and lead
• Reflections on empty nesting, staying busy, and what’s next (including Stacy’s exciting news about becoming a grandma!)

New Segment: Ask (Not) an Expert

As part of the relaunch, we’re introducing a new advice section where listeners can send in questions. In this episode, Kathy, Linda, and Stacy weigh in on:

• How to handle being excluded from after-work socializing with male colleagues
• Deciding when to go back to school vs. starting a family, and how to manage both

Rapid Fire with Stacy

• Favorite STEM inspirations
• One word to describe her career journey
• The most unexpected skills she’s had to learn on the job

About Our Guest

Stacy Cluff is the IT and Broadband Manager at Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative. She manages the cooperative’s broadband deployment, including grant funding, contractors, and customer engagement, while also overseeing IT operations. Stacy is passionate about bringing affordable, reliable internet to rural communities and supporting her co-op’s mission to serve its members.

Want to ask a question for our new advice segment?

• Leave us a voicemail through our website www.ordinarily-extraordinary.com
• Or email: ordinarilyextraordinarypod@gmail.com

Music by Kay Paulus

Follow Kay on Instagram @kaypaulus8

Support the show