Who I Am

I’m Joe Meléndez, an educator, researcher, and creative technologist with more than 15 years of experience designing and leading programs that expand access to STEM and computer science education. Currently, I serve as a Research Scholar at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University and as part of the EngageAI Institute. In this role, I lead SceneCraft, an NSF-funded project that helps teachers create narrative-driven, AI-powered learning environments for middle and high school students.

What I Do

Throughout my career, I have worked at the intersections of education, technology, and equity. I have led national initiatives such as SCRIPT at CSforALL, directed K-12 coaching programs at Cornell Tech, and managed the borough-wide rollout of NYC’s CS4All initiative across Manhattan’s public schools. Earlier in my career, I developed STEM programs at ExpandED Schools, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Liberty Science Center, always with a focus on empowering teachers and engaging students through curiosity and creativity.

Beyond Education

In addition to my work in education, I bring a background in journalism, creative writing, and photography. I studied creative writing at The New School and have worked as both a journalist and a fiction writer, always exploring the power of storytelling to connect people and ideas. Photography is another passion, offering a way to document, interpret, and share the world visually. These creative practices not only fuel my personal work but also shape how I think about narrative, design, and learning.

My Approach

Whether I am developing professional learning frameworks, building tools for teachers, or crafting stories, my goal is the same: to make knowledge accessible, to center people in the process, and to use creativity as a bridge between ideas and action. I believe that technology should amplify human expertise, not replace it. Storytelling in all its forms has the power to spark imagination, build community, and create change.