Lily K. Donaldson
I’m a classroom Computer Science teacher and an advocate for STEM and Arts Education working to bridge educational gaps, especially among disadvantaged K-12 students.
As a technologist and educator that’s worked with people from all walks of life (from kindergartners in rural New Mexico to NASA scientists in New York City), I’ve developed excellent communication skills, technical aptitude, and the ability to empathetically support and empower people from highly diverse backgrounds in science and technology, and beyond.
Connect with me to learn more about my innovative STEM education work (and more)!
me @ lilykdonaldson.com | arttechnically.org
Lily K. Donaldson
I’m a classroom Computer Science teacher and an advocate for STEM and Arts Education working to bridge educational gaps, especially among disadvantaged K-12 students.
As a technologist and educator that’s worked with people from all walks of life (from kindergartners in rural New Mexico to NASA scientists in New York City), I’ve developed excellent communication skills, technical aptitude, and the ability to empathetically support and empower people from highly diverse backgrounds in science and technology, and beyond.
Connect with me to learn more about my innovative STEM education work (and more)!
me @ lilykdonaldson.com | arttechnically.org
Recent Posts
Starting a PhD Program
I was admitted into the Ph.D. program in Built Ecologies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and will start in August as a Ph.D. student at the Center for Lighting Enabled Systems and Applications.
I graduated (again)!
Another year, another pandemic graduation… I graduated with a Master of Science in Lighting from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this month!
The 21st Century Greenhouse
Use the web tool below to see the different components of a 21st-century greenhouse, including advanced sensors, a data analytics dashboard, LED grow lights, and how the greenhouse fits into the community. Read the full whitepaper at the button at the bottom of the web tool.
LED Swirling Soft Serve
What do compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and soft serve have in common? Their iconic swirls! This project combines these iconic swirls together to create a light-up, color-changing ice cream cone using RGBW LED strip lights, a microcontroller, a button, a ‘cone,’ and a CFL-style bulb.
Master’s Project 2021 – Estimate Pupil Size
Using predefined models of human response to light, this web tool aims to allow users to easily calculate pupil size and estimate the amount and quality of light reaching the retina of a subject based on illuminance at the eye, spectral power distribution at the eye, and the age of the subject.
Circle, circle, dot, dot, I got my second Covid shot!
Very excited that COVID-19 vaccines are out! Here’s to a return to some form of normalcy…
Forest Photography with Andrew Jones in Maryland
Springtime forest photography with Andrew Jones in Maryland to celebrate Earth Day 2021.
I made an LED Ice Cream Cone Display
What do compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and soft serve have in common? Their iconic swirls! This project combines these iconic swirls together to create a light-up, color-changing ice cream cone.
Vegan Easter Treats
Grass bunny Oreo truffles, Blueberry muffin tops, Chocolate covered strawberries, and Mud pudding with strawberry carrots!
Miss Tennessee USA 2021
Lily represented Shelby County at the Miss Tennessee USA 2021 pageant in April.
Vegan Banana Cream Pie for Pi Day
Make this vegan Banana Cream Pie with a graham cracker pi design for Pi Day!
Miss Shelby County USA 2021
Lily represented Shelby County at the Miss Tennessee USA 2021 pageant in March.
I made an LED Light-Up Gown for the Holidays
I made a gown that lights up for the Holidays using LED fairy string lights!
First Semester of my M.S. in Lighting Program at RPI
I’m one semester into my Master of Science in Lighting program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Dynamic Bridge Design for Troy, NY
Bridge lighting design for the Hoosick street bridge in Troy, New York. This web tool allows you to turn on and off layers of light in the design and calculate the estimated cost using chosen layers.
I Spy – Bourne Identity Photoshoot with Andy Jones
Some spy-esque and Jason Bourne inspired photos by Andrew Jones in Washington, DC.
World Space Week 2020 with Andy Jones
Happy World Space Week from Andy Jones and me at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and more!
Indiana Jones Inspired Photoshoot with Andy Jones
Some adventurous Indiana Jones inspired photography by Andrew Jones in Washington, DC.
An Alcohol-Free 21st (pandemic) Birthday
As you may know, I am straight-edge/sober, so I celebrated my 21st birthday alcohol-free! (Except for some obligatory wine poached pears with the alcohol cooked out 🙂
Feds Feed Families 2020
I collected 130 pounds of food donations for American University’s food pantry “The Market” which provides food to students in need!
I graduated!
I (technically?) graduated this month. No ceremony because of the pandemic, but I did get my B.S. diploma in the mail…
American University Cheerleading 2019-2020
American University cheerleading season 2019-2020 (cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Spectrasearch – Department of Energy’s Lighting Program
SpectraSearch is a full-stack web application that seeks to develop a database of spectral data and a searchable interface for spectral data/lights to help lighting professionals evaluate lighting products against current and future requirements.
ThinSat – NASA DC Space Grant Consortium
Lily was under grant from the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium to develop a generic particle detector Arduino library for the ThinSat program. ThinSats are small satellites capable of transmitting data from low earth orbit.