Welcome Michael Smoley and Sophia Buskirk to The STEAM Factory Team! Michael Smoley is a new full-time staff member for STEAM while Sophia is our new intern. You can get to know both Michael and Sophia more below!

Michael Smoley

• Who are you? (Name, pronouns, where you're from, anything else you would want to say)
  • My name is Michael Smoley and my pronouns are he/him/his. I am from Massillon, Ohio and currently live in Athens, Ohio.
• What will you be doing at the STEAM factory?
  • I am the Content and Editorial Strategist for the STEAM Factory, so I will be working on our website, newsletter, social media and will be helping with conducting our various events.
• What's your educational/professional background?
  • I graduated from Ohio University in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in strategic communication, with a specialization in marketing. Before this role, I was the Director of Digital Marketing for a small educational company based in Athens, Ohio.
• Do you have any pets?
  • I have two dogs, one Chihuahua mix named Grady and one shepherd mix named Crash. Both were adopted from the Athens County Humane Society!
• What are your hobbies or passions?
  • Aside from spending time with my girlfriend and two dogs, I love to keep up with current political news and activism. I also love travel and gaming.
• What's your favorite thing about OSU?
  • Although I am very new to OSU, my favorite thing already about OSU is how welcoming of an environment it has been. All of the faculty and staff that I have met already have been very friendly and have already made me feel at home.
• What's your favorite movie?
  • Memento
• What is one interesting fact about you?
  • I am a pretty fluent alto saxophone player.

Sophia Buskirk

• Who are you? (Name, pronouns, where you're from, anything else you would want to say)
  • Sophia Mae Ahn Buskirk (she/her/hers). From Southern California & Nashville, TN
• What is your role at the STEAM Factory?
  • STEAM Factory Intern
• What's your educational/professional background?
  • Just graduated from Ohio State with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Minors in Political Science and Critical and Cultural Theory
• Do you have any pets?
  • Kona the aussiedoodle
• What are some of your hobbies or interests?
  • Mixed media art, collaging, painting, hiking, yoga, cooking
• What's your favorite thing about OSU?
  • The lovely people! I’ve met so many wonderful people throughout my years at Ohio State.
• What's your favorite movie?
  • Goodwill Hunting
• What is one interesting fact about you?
  • I’ve driven on the autobahn in Germany!