BRENA ADAMDES

I have been making things for as long as I can remember. I find joy in taking things apart to see how they work, and love the challenge of putting them back together better than before. You will usually find me on the floor fixing a 3D printer, designing on a sewing machine, or coloring at the kitchen table. My hands are always busy, and honestly, that is just who I am. Creating is not something I do, it is what brings me life.

I fell in love with STEM education long before I knew it would become my career. A four year high school program called SEED, Saturday Engineering Enrichment and Discovery at MIT, changed the trajectory of my life. That program gave a young Afro-Latina girl from Boston the confidence to walk into an engineering school and believe she belonged there. I never forgot what it felt like to have that door opened for me, so I dedicated my life to opening it for others.

Today I am an educator, a mother, a wife, and a creator with over a decade of experience in STEM education, curriculum design, and makerspace learning. My work sits at the intersection of creativity, technology, and access, helping learners build skills, confidence, and agency through making.

Now I find myself back at MIT studying Applied AI, a true full circle moment. If SEED was the beginning of my career story, this next chapter is about expanding what education can look like, building smarter and more personalized learning experiences, and creating pathways for every learner who needs an open door.