Retired after a 38-year career in public education, Cathi Cox-Boniol currently serves as director of the Region 8 LaSTEM Center located at Louisiana Tech University and is a STEM education consultant through Side by Side Strategies. Cathi also serves as the Louisiana Co-Director for the national Engineering by Design Consortium that is part of the STEM Center for Teaching and Learning within the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association as well as the national cohort of facilitators for Essential Elements through the Chemical Educational Foundation. Named as Chair for the Louisiana Science Standards Review to establish the first new standards in more than 20 years, she helmed the work of more than 100 statewide educators and stakeholders and directed Committee and Workgroup sessions in developing multi-dimensional standards that finally addressed the critical components of science and engineering practices. Cathi completed three consecutive terms as president of the Louisiana Tech University Alumni Association National Board of Directors while also serving as Chair for the Board of Directors for The Wellspring Alliance for Families and the Louisiana Chapter of Teach 1 to Lead 1. Honored for her professional accomplishments at the local, state, and national level, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, Cathi earned the distinction of “Louisianian of the Year” for her activism and advocacy around STEM education. She received the ITEEA Public Understanding of Technology & Engineering Education Award and has been appointed to serve on the ITEEA Technology and Engineering Teacher Editorial Board. Engaged in both the ITEEA Elementary STEM Council and Council for STEM Leadership where she was named Outstanding State Leader, she is also a state facilitator and trainer for the OpenSciEd curriculum. Named as NCLAC Board Member of the Year, Cathi was Listed among Delta Style Magazine’s “Sweet Sixteen” Most Influential Women and also earned the national Kappa Delta Sorority Order of the Pearl Award for her prominence in professional and civic service at the national, state, and local level. A lifelong resident of Ruston, Louisiana, and passionate musician, Cathi is married to Tom Boniol and when not traveling together, they are busy community advocates actively serving the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Tech University, North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Keep Lincoln Parish Beautiful, United Way of Northeast Louisiana, The Wellspring, and other service initiatives.