Our People

Caroline Fry

Director and Co-founder 

Caroline is an Associate Professor at the University of Hawai’i specializing in global science policy and equity. Her research examines how structural disadvantages in scientific ecosystems emerge and evaluates policies and programs that can mitigate these barriers. She holds a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge. 

Andrew Gerard

Co-founder 

Andrew is a senior meta science fellow at the Institute for Progress. Previously, he was Deputy Director of the Research Division at the U.S. Agency for International Development and also managed the $111 million Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program, which funded LMIC scientists. Aside from his work at USAID, Andrew has worked on science policy in LMICs with the Global Knowledge Initiative and conducted research on African agricultural commodities at Michigan State University. He has a Ph.D. in Community Sustainability from Michigan State University, a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Sciences from Andrews University. 

Meredith Pfennig

Project Associate

In addition to being Project Associate at the Science for Development Center, Meredith is a Research Assistant at Auburn University’s School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences. She holds a Master’s in Coastal, Marine, and Wetland Studies from Coastal Carolina University and a Biology degree from Hofstra University. Previously, she was a Research Technician at Hawai‘i’s Institute of Marine Biology, supporting an NSF-funded project to build a climate-resilient food innovation network across Hawai‘i and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. There, she led stakeholder engagement, coordinated events, and managed project data.