STEAM Genius is the parent not-for-profit organization with a host of programs, scholarships, and services.
Our offerings are the result of evidence-based applied research, where we identify specific “cool factor” engagement methods, show up consistently and authentically in underserved spaces, and attract the curiosity of underserved youth and young adults. Sparking their curiosity provides us with an entry point to offer additional STEM and STEAM educational opportunities that allow youth and young adults to witness their own genius and future possibilities.
We mourn the loss of Dr. Patterson, who passed away suddenly on April 2, 2024. STEAM Genius will continue to honor his vision and implement his projects as best we can.
Dr. Patterson focused on preparing students of various Hip Hop generations to be civic-minded urban global leaders in cultural innovation, entrepreneurship, engineering, business, art, and technology. He challenged students by contextualizing applied learning methods that encourage students to re-think various forms of traditional scholarship from a variety of disciplines in order to address contemporary issues that impact urban environments around the globe.
Meet Our Team
Lori Gold Patterson
Lori Gold Patterson, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Illinois, co-founded and led a 30-person engineering consulting firm that she sold in 2021. Lori had the honor of founding and operating several entrepreneurial ventures with Street College’s visionary, the late Dr. Will Patterson, and is committed to seeing the impact of his work continue for future generations. She is passionate about organizational culture building, economic development partnerships, start-up advising, and community building. Lori has been honored locally and statewide for her entrepreneurial leadership. Currently, she serves as Street College’s CEO.
Shannon McFarland, MS
Shannon McFarland is a publicist and community investor based in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. With a diverse background in media and communications, Shannon advocates for publicity in industries such as STEM, sports, youth development, and Black culture in central Illinois. Shannon aims to help youth, emerging entrepreneurs, and government-funded agencies learn how to share their unique value using traditional and online news platforms. As an investor, her portfolio carries a brand presence in Forbes, Business Insider, AfroTech, and more.
Shannon is a Mass Media Arts graduate of Clark Atlanta University and received her master’s in Recreation & Sport Management from Florida International University in Miami, FL.
Maria Cynthia “MC” Anderson, PHD, MFA
Research Scholar
MC Anderson received her PhD in Education Policy Studies from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with a specialization in Philosophy of Education in Art and Aesthetics. She has a passion for championing access to quality education for non-traditional students. As a postdoctoral scholar with the University of Illinois Extension, MC conducted applied research on Higher Education in Prison programs and dual credit access for underserved students. Currently, she serves as Business Director at Street College.
Alyssa Rodriguez
Operations Manager
Ja’Naea Modest (DJ Silkee)
Senior Instructor
Ja’Naea Modest, known professionally as DJ Silkee, is a Midwest-based DJ from Urbana, Illinois. Born in Danville and raised in Urbana, her love for music began at a young age, inspired by her mother and later shaped through community mentorship. Her journey into DJing took off after being encouraged to DJ for the singing group Prince Night, which opened doors to performances across the Champaign-Urbana area and beyond. DJ Silkee has opened for artists such as Ava Max, Mystikal, DJ Self, and Young Dro, and has provided music for events at the University of Illinois, Champaign Unit 4, Urbana District 116, the Urbana Sweet Corn Festival, and the Urbana Get Down.
In addition to performing, Silkee is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois, where she teaches DJ 101. She is also the founder of She Spins, an all-girls DJ camp for ages 10–17, created to empower young girls through music, creativity, and confidence. Passionate about education, DJ Silkee enjoys working with students and highlighting the importance of STEM through DJing, technology, and hands-on learning.
Jay Walker
Senior Instructor
Jay Walker is a Senior Instructor at Street College and a community-rooted educator and recording artist from Urbana-Champaign. A former student of Dr. William “Doc” Patterson, he now blends Hip-Hop and hands-on STEM to lead programs in music, media, engineering, and civics—building creative confidence and real pathways to college, careers, and entrepreneurship for local youth.
Carlton Greg Bruett
Senior Instructor
Carlton Bruett, hailing from Champaign, Illinois, is a well-rounded individual with a passion for music and design. He learned to play the drums and piano at a young age, under the guidance of church mentors. Despite not growing up surrounded by rap music, it had a profound impact on him so began experimenting with freestyling and recording on cassette players. As he progressed through school, he became increasingly involved in the hip hop scene, participating in battles, recording songs, and producing. It was during this time that he developed a passion for the digital arts and taught himself the necessary skills to form the foundation of what is now known as TheGr8Thinkaz.
Donovan Patterson
Senior Instructor
Donovan Patterson was born and raised in Urbana IL and is one of our Senior Instructors at Street College. Before he became the professional he is today, Donovan found his love for music as a highly accomplished musician/drummer. Through his love of music he then became a producer, sound engineer, and recording artist. He has worked at major studios within Chicago, Los Angeles, and has owned his own studio with his brother here in Champaign-Urbana. Skilled in Audio engineering, music production, artist development, team management, programing, and organizational management. He studied audio design at Columbia College Chicago and finished his undergraduate at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with his Bachelors of Science (BS) in Psychology. Now a strong professional, he has had multiple years of experience in youth development, team management, program development, and business operations.
Christopher Lenear
Senior Instructor
Born and raised in Urbana, Illinois, Christopher Lenear has always balanced a love of creativity, technology, and storytelling. A 1995 Urbana native, he grew up immersed in anime/manga, history, video games, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and comics—passions that continue to inspire his work today. Alongside his creative pursuits, he developed a lifelong love of sports including football, basketball, and baseball, and more recently, yoga. Christopher attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in History in 2018. During this time, he discovered his interest in digital creativity, teaching himself music production through FL Studio and video editing with Adobe Premiere. His commitment to education led him to the AVID program at Champaign School District, where he worked from 2017 to 2019, followed by a year with the Urbana School District. When the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the world in 2020, Christopher took the opportunity to expand his skills further. He pursued a personal trainer certification through NASM and went on to work at several gyms across the Chicago and Champaign area over the next three years. This experience reinforced his belief in growth, adaptability, and the importance of pursuing passions wherever they may lead.
Now serving as Senior Engineering Instructor at Street College, Christopher brings his unique background in history, education, fitness, and digital arts to his students. His philosophy is simple yet powerful: you don’t need a degree in STEM to explore, apply, and succeed in it. By blending creativity with technical skills, he empowers students to approach engineering, music production, and media creation with curiosity and confidence.
Dr. Sharon Irish
Sharon Irish is a Research Affiliate in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. A resident of Urbana, IL, since 1985, she has collaborated with a number of local youth-serving organizations, especially on arts-based initiatives. As an historian, she has a particular interest in community cultural development and urban spatial practices. For further information, see https://sharonirish.org/