OSIT Staff

Brian Mitchell

Director

Brian Mitchell serves as the Director of the Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT), the State of Nevada's Broadband Office, and oversees the planning, mapping and procurement of broadband infrastructure. Brian leads the State's High Speed Nevada Initiative, a $500 million program to achieve the goal of universal access to affordable, reliable, scalable broadband. Over the last five years, Brian and his team have secured State and federal funds to build over 400 miles of fiber to nearly 40 different entities, including 12 Tribal libraries, and annually assist over a thousand local entities apply for federal broadband funding. Passionate about equity, Brian also oversees Nevada's digital inclusion program.
Brian also oversees Nevada's STEM education and workforce development initiatives, including the State's Graduate Medical Education and Physician Loan Repayment programs, STEM Workforce Pathways programs that bridge the high school-college gap, STEM professional learning programs for K-12 teachers, and an academy for aspiring STEM schools. In total, Brian manages a grant portfolio of over $40 million that has funded the creation of over 100 new STEM programs across the P-20 spectrum in high-demand career fields over the last six years. 

Tracey Howard

STEM Program Director

Tracey Howard is the STEM Program Manager for the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology. In this role, she works with teachers and administrators to implement best practices in STEM classroom instruction as well as with schools seeking to receive the Governor’s STEM School designation. She also manages OSIT’s grants and funding opportunities. Tracey previously worked as an elementary teacher and as a STEM Instructional Specialist with a focus on Project-Based Learning. She holds a Master of Education in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in STEM Education, the latter of which she earned as part of the Lemelson Cohort IV at the University of Nevada, Reno. Through all of her work with Nevada’s teachers and students, she is driven by her passion to increase access to STEM for all of Nevada’s students. Tracey lives in the Tahoe area and in her down time, she enjoys exploring what the Sierra has to offer!

Lis Dziminski

STEM Program Manager

Lis Dziminski joins the Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation, and Technology as the STEM Program Manager after twenty years in public education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and was a classroom teacher and a gifted and talented specialist with the Clark County School District. Lis proceeded to earn a master’s degree from Sierra Nevada College in Advanced Teaching and Leadership with a specialization in Gifted Studies. Soon after, she was invited to join Sierra Nevada College as an adjunct professor. Thereafter, Lis earned several more teaching endorsements from Touro University and Southern Utah University while positioned as a CCSD Instructional Coach. Then in the spring of 2017, Lis worked as a STEM Strategist where she developed, implemented, and oversaw the five year transition of a school from a traditional elementary to a science and technology academy. During her time as the STEM Strategist, the school earned state and national recognition for high quality STEM education. Lis is proud to be a native Nevadan and enjoys spending time exploring its stunning landscape as well as traveling with her husband and two daughters. 

Debbie Petrelli

Administrative Assistant III

Debbie Petrelli has been the Administrative Assistant III with the Governor's Office of Science, Innovation and Technology since 2016. She previously served as the Executive Assistant at a Henderson, Nevada engineering firm. Prior to that, Ms. Petrelli was a legal secretary at a Reno law firm, and in White Pine County Seventh Judicial District Court. Debbie and her husband enjoy road trips throughout Nevada and especially back to Ely and Las Vegas to visit family and friends.