Affia Pollok, is a Richmond native and a graduate of VCU with a BS in Urban Planning. She is deeply integrated in Richmond’s art community. Affia joined CodeVA in 2017 as a Eureka instructor, and now serves as CodeVa’s Volunteer Coordinator and is this year’s Project Lead on Full STEAM Ahead. She enjoys traveling, cycling, and being outside in her free time.

Maggie Smith is a visual artist, curator, and art educator with an inclination towards the silly. Currently, in addition to serving as CodeVA’s Director of Eureka Workshop, Smith is a part-time instructor at Visual Arts Center of Richmond where she provides youth outreach programming to underserved populations. Previously Smith was curator at Quirk Gallery for five years, and an assistant manager at World of Mirth prior to that. She previously lived in Atlanta, where she was cofounder of Cabbagetown Clay and Glassworks, a nonprofit neighborhood art education center in the inner- city Atlanta neighborhood of Cabbagetown. She is a native of Richmond, and received her BFA at Breanu University in Gainesville, Ga.

Della is a meticulous artist, an enthusiastic gardener, and a macgyver in general. She is the eldest of five siblings, who all keep her on her toes. Growing up in a family of engineers, Della discovered the power of STEAM at a young age. She was encouraged to learn by creating, experimenting, and exploring. Della moved to Richmond for her undergraduate at VCU, and the city hasn’t been able to rid itself of her since. She graduated in three years with a degree in Communication Arts. In school, Della concentrated in illustration, graphic design, and art as an educational tool. During her senior year, Della’s academic work converged with her personal interest in women’s studies when she started Full STEAM Ahead. She loves road trips, complicated board games, tinkering, and all things outdoors.