Phoenix, Ariz.—November 20, 2012
DeVry University hosted a Women in STEM Education and Careers Roundtable on Tuesday at its Phoenix campus. The discussion of the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields was led by Rebecca Gau, director of the Governor’s Office of Education Innovation, and featured female leaders working in the field throughout the Phoenix region.
“With so much untapped potential in the growing fields of science, technology, engineering and math, it’s never been more important to get more women and girls involved in STEM education and careers,” said Gau. “The Governor’s Office has made it a priority to support important initiatives to close the skills gap and build a strong workforce for Arizona.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17 percent from 2008 to 2018, compared to 9.8 percent growth for non-STEM occupations. Though women comprised the majority of undergraduates in 2007, colleges and universities awarded nearly 139,000 (138,874) STEM bachelor’s degrees to men and just 88,371 to women – more than a 57 percent difference in gender degree attainment. Through efforts like today’s roundtable, DeVry University hopes to close that gap and inspire more young women to join STEM fields.
Topics discussed at the roundtable included included policy solutions and ideas to encourage young women to explore educational and career opportunities within the STEM fields. Gau was joined by expert speakers including:
Barbara McAllister, director of global strategic initiatives, Intel Foundation
Michelle Higgins, senior director of membership experience, STEM, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona
Naomi P. McMillan, dean, clinical laboratory science program, DeVry University
Carol S. Popovich, senior FIRST® community relations representative, Microchip Technology Inc.
Tracy Rexroat, state supervisor CTE, Arizona Department of Education
“DeVry has a proud history of promoting STEM to our students, and we hope that today’s conversation serves as a catalyst to promote more educational and career opportunities to women locally here in Phoenix and statewide,” said Craig Jacob, metro president of DeVry University Phoenix.
Women in STEM Roundtable Participants pictured above, front row left to right: Carol Popovich, Barbara McCallister, Tracy Rexroat and Rebecca Gau. Back row, left to right: Naomi McMillan and Michelle Higgins
DeVry is committed to expanding educational access and opportunity in STEM fields through programs like HerWorld®, a program that introduces hundreds of high school girls every year to the career opportunities available in the technology field.
