David Coronado is a senior program officer with The Lemelson Foundation where his grantmaking focuses on equipping U.S. schools and school districts with innovative teaching practices and resources to help youth develop the cutting-edge skills and confidence they need to design their own futures. Specifically this includes the development and stewardship of a strong network of cross-sector partnerships at local and national levels, that support student achievement, promote STEM and invention education, and explore ground-breaking solutions to modern challenges.
Previously, Coronado helped develop various efforts to provide young people with equal and inclusive access to invention education and STEM coursework within K-12 systems and in higher education including working on federal TRIO programs in STEM at Harvey Mudd College, and serving as the Executive Director of Oregon MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement) at Portland State University (PSU). At PSU, he also served as a diversity and equity leader for the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science by designing courses and programs aimed at retention and persistence of Black, Native Americans, Latinx, women, and low-income students. Nationally, Coronado served as the President of MESA USA and is chair emeritus of the national STEM Funder’s Network.