STEM Regional Manager to present “Growing Iowa’s STEM Career Pipeline” at Leaders Speak Series
01/13/2017
South Central Iowa STEM Regional Manager, Sarah Derry, from Drake University will present “Growing Iowa’s STEM Career Pipeline” on Wednesday, February 15 at 6:00 p.m. in the Musco Technology Center on William Penn University’s campus. Derry will present about the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council’s goal of increasing STEM interest and achievement and how it is critical to regain Iowa’s historic legacy as a leader in education and workforce development. The presentation will also cover how STEM is a vital economic development advantage for quality job growth and that STEM graduates are in great demand.
“One great thing for local businesses and educational entities is that Iowa has so many rich projects already in place that will allow easy collaboration between the business and educational organizations in this community. These partnerships are vital to growing the number of young people interested in STEM and to fulfilling the workforce demands that the state of Iowa is projected to have,” said Assistant Teaching Professor of Mathematics at William Penn University, Breanne Garrett.
Derry is the South Central Iowa Stem Regional Manager and is housed at Drake University. Her education includes a B.S. in Genetics from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from the University of Iowa. Derry’s career began as a science teacher in a low-income, urban high school and her work experience includes conducting research in commercial and academic laboratories
The Leaders Speak Series is an annual initiative that reaches out to the community with diverse leadership-based themes. This year there are three scheduled speakers this spring that will expand on this year’s theme: “Regenerate: planting ideas for generations.” The theme focuses on motivating students and community members to become more active and be a part of the changes they want to see, whether that is in their own lives or in the community.
The event is free and open to the public and will also be streamed online at: www.wmpenn.edu/leaders.