Tzipor Ulman, PHD

Founder & CEO

Tzipor founded Science is Elementary in 2008 out of a conviction that hands-on science education shouldn't wait, and shouldn't be reserved for children with access to well-resourced classrooms.

At the time, few organizations were focused on science for the youngest learners in underserved communities. SiE was a pioneer in that space, and has grown steadily over eighteen years into a multi-faceted organization reaching more than 60,000 children, educators, and families each year across four states.

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and exposed how little support existed for science learning outside the classroom, Tzipor developed “Science is for Me!”, an innovative approach to early science education. The program pairs original picture books featuring diverse children as scientists, with hands-on experiment kits simple enough for young children to use independently. Science is for Me! is implemented through a network of more than 50 out-of-school-time partners,  including libraries, YMCAs, and community organizations.

Before founding SiE, Tzipor worked in business strategy consulting, seed-stage venture capital, and nonprofit management. That cross-sector experience has shaped her practical, sustainability-minded approach to running the organization. She has served in leadership roles on several nonprofit boards and is a recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service.

Tzipor holds a PhD in physical chemistry from Stanford University and a BSc in chemistry from Case Western Reserve University. She is the proud mother of two young men in whom she has instilled a deep curiosity about the world.