field notes — who we are
Preparing today’s learners for tomorrow’s challenges.
Austin STEM Center (ASC) is a nonprofit STEM education and innovation hub dedicated to making STEM accessible, exciting, and hands-on for learners of all ages.
We believe the most meaningful learning happens through experience. When people are given the opportunity to explore, build, experiment, and solve real-world challenges, they don’t just gain technical skills — they develop confidence, creativity, curiosity, and the ability to think critically.
That’s why everything we do is designed to move beyond traditional instruction and into authentic, hands-on learning experiences that inspire lifelong learning.
Working alongside educators, schools, families, industry partners, and our robotics affiliate ATX Robotics Inc., we’re building a community where learners discover their passions, develop practical skills, and prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow.
From robotics and engineering to manufacturing, digital fabrication, and emerging technologies, Austin STEM Center provides access to professional learning environments where ideas become reality and curiosity becomes capability.
Together, we’re creating a future where more people have the confidence to build, innovate, and shape the world around them.
the crew
Meet the team.
Leadership
Leah Silen
Executive Director
Lexi Little
Director of People & Operations
Luke Spence
Director of Technical Programming
Programming
Adrian Perez
Experiential Learning & Content
Meason Wiley
Experiential Learning & Design
Rylee Lippenholz
Administrative Specialist
Joseph Williams
IT & Shop Steward
Steering Committee
Peter Wang
Co-Founder
Evan Marchman
Co-Founder
Leah Silen
Executive Director
how it started
The history of the Austin STEM Center.
In 2025, Peter Wang, Evan Marchman, and Ken Hawthorn came together with a shared vision: to create a place where students could truly experience STEM through hands-on learning, innovation, and real-world opportunity. Each founder brought different skills, experience, and perspective to the table, along with foundational support and investment from Peter Wang.
Within just a few short months, a building was secured, an incredible team was assembled, and Austin STEM Center began building programs designed to ignite curiosity, creativity, and confidence in students of all backgrounds.
Today, Austin STEM Center exists to inspire the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, engineers, and leaders by making STEM education accessible, engaging, and impactful for the community.
Support this work
If our mission resonates with you, we’d love your support. Your donation expands access to hands-on STEM learning and gives more learners the chance to explore, build, and discover what’s possible.
Donate here →