Leading Women in STEM Announced Today!
Twelve California Women Honored as “Leading Women in STEM” for Advancing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education
Business, Education, and Nonprofit Women Leaders Honored at California STEM Summit for Achievements in Bolstering STEM Education and Job Creation Across California
Twelve women from across California will be honored today as “Leading Women in STEM” at an awards luncheon taking place at the 2012 California STEM Summit at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego. The Leading Women in STEM awards recognize their achievements in advancing innovative and effective STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education initiatives across the state and serving as exemplary role models for California women and girls.
The California STEM Summit is a statewide leadership convening of business, government, education, nonprofit and philanthropic luminaries to spark change in STEM education and workforce development and launch new STEM education initiatives. The Summit is convened by the nonprofit California STEM Learning Network (CSLNet), which works to bring systemic change to how STEM is taught and learned in California in order to prepare the nation’s most STEM-capable graduates.
Recognizing the dramatic need for increasing the number of women in STEM fields – only 25% of STEM jobs in the U.S. are held by women – CSLNet is highlighting accomplished women STEM leaders and supporting initiatives across California to bolster STEM education for female students, noting that women with STEM jobs earn 33% more than comparable women in non-STEM jobs.
“The California STEM Learning Network is proud to honor these highly accomplished education, industry, non-profit and civic leaders for their innovative and successful efforts to create world-class STEM education across California,” said Chris Roe, California STEM Learning Network CEO. “Their leadership will ensure that our next generation of leaders is truly reflective of the great diversity and talent that we have in our state.”
The Leading Women in STEM honorees are:
- Dr. Joan Bissell, Teacher Education and Public School Programs, California State University Chancellor’s Office
- Sandra Birmingham, STEM Pipeline Outreach Director, California State University, Channel Islands
- Rachel Bondi, Chief of Mobile Innovation, Creative Artists Agency
- Assemblymember Susan Bonilla (CA-11)
- Dr. Pamela Clute, Assistant Vice Chancellor Educational and Community Engagement, University of California, Riverside
- Judy D’Amico, Senior Director of Engagement, Project Lead the Way
- Dawn Garrett, SAS Operations Director, Raytheon
- Dr. Susan Hackwood, Executive Director, California Council on Science and Technology
- Dr. Linda Katehi, Chancellor, UC Davis
- Dr. Helen Quinn, Professor Emerita, Stanford University
- Dr. Carol Tang, Director, Coalition for Science After School
- Nancy Taylor, San Diego County Office of Education/San Diego Science Alliance
Honorees are being awarded for their leadership in advancing critical areas of STEM education including adoption of Next Generation Science Standards, strengthening STEM teacher pathways, advocating for strengthened public-private partnerships and alignment of resources, and ensuring all California students have access to high-quality STEM in out-of-school time.
