PAST Foundation
Jim Bruner is an experienced professional with a diverse background in urban agriculture, creative systems, multimedia design, and web development. Currently serving as a Futurist Farmer and Alpha Animal at Mezzacello Urban Farm since April 2023, Jim also holds the position of Sultan of Systems at The PAST Foundation, where collaboration with a multidisciplinary team aims to innovate educational practices. Previous roles include Urban Farmer at Mezzacello Columbus, LLC, Front End Developer at Columbus Dispatch, and Adjunct Faculty Member at Columbus State Community College, among others. Jim's educational credentials include an Associate degree in Computer Science from Columbus State Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design from Columbus College of Art & Design.
PAST Foundation
We are a non-profit organization that is dedicated to making education better by promoting trans-disciplinary, problem-based STEM learning. The challenge, though, is that “better” is different for everyone. We see this challenge as an opportunity. PAST approaches educational improvement from an anthropological perspective. PAST brings a uniquely powerful tool to system design: anthropology. Collectively, PAST anthropologists have over a hundred years of experience studying the complex structure of societies and their interactions, and use this expertise to understand clients’ needs. In other words, we get you. The combination of anthropology and STEM is a powerful one. PAST has guided entire feeder systems in their transitions to STEM learning to see remarkable improvement in a few short years. PAST has helped educational organizations streamline their processes to reach more students with fewer resources. PAST has partnered with community organizations around the country to reach thousands of students with the concepts of problem-based, trans-disciplinary learning.