Episode 23 - Leonisa Ardizzone - Professor, Author, Singer, Minister, Polyglot, Mom

The amazing Leonisa Ardizzone joins Rule 42 to share her incredible story! With over 20 years in education, Dr. Ardizzone has taught middle and high school science in Seattle, Ithaca, and New York City. She holds degrees in biology (Ithaca College), science education (Western Washington University), International Educational Development with a focus on Peace Education (Columbia University), and inter-religious engagement (Union Theological Seminary). She has served as an assistant professor and as Executive Director at the Salvadori Center. In 2012, she founded Storefront Science, a play-based learning space emphasizing exploration and inquiry. Raised by Italian opera lovers, Dr. Ardizzone's musical journey began at age 4. She discovered jazz in her twenties, leading to performances at top NYC clubs and forming the Leonisa Ardizzone Quartet. The quartet released two critically acclaimed albums, Afraid of the Heights (2007) and The Scent of Bitter Almonds (2009), followed by All in Good Time (2019) after a 10-year hiatus.Dr. Ardizzone is also an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, serving as an Affiliated Community Minister at Fourth Universalist. She focuses on youth and young adult ministry and founded the Peace Education Center of the Hudson Valley. She has been part of Fourth Universalist since 2011, curating Jazz Vespers and leading a Buddhist-UU study group.She is also fluent in Italian and has been the STEM Consultant for Nickelodeon and their hit show Blaze and the Monster Machines.Join us as we delve into the fascinating intersections of science, education, music, and ministry with Dr. Leonisa Ardizzone on Rule 42!https://www.leonisaardizzone.com/https://leonisa.substack.com/New episodes of Rule 42 premiere every Thursday on all podcast platforms!