Governor Kim Reynolds recently appointed four new members to join the STEM Advisory Council, including Thomas Dodds, Site Manager at BASF; Michelle Hill, Director of Work-Based Learning at Waukee APEX; Sara Lang, Senior Director of Engineering at Collins Aerospace; and Leah Rodenberg, Senior Program Manager at Alliant Energy.

The 58-member Council represents Iowa leaders in PreK-12 educators, higher education, business, nonprofits, state and local government officials, among others. The Council has collaborated to boost STEM education and innovation across the state, with the goal of invigorating the talent pipeline toward STEM careers.

“I was interested in joining the STEM Advisory Council to bring my perspective as both a mom of three school-age children and a STEM leader in industry. I am excited to help shape opportunities which will hopefully encourage the youth of Iowa to grow a lifelong love of STEM,” said Sara Lang, Collins Aerospace Senior Director of Engineering.

“For me, the exposure to the power of education (and also STEM) came as a child when Iowa was first-in-the-nation in education. As a chemical engineer today and having benefitted from an Iowa education, I also value the long-term STEM-benefits delivered to businesses in Iowa and to the power of early STEM education. The roots that are grown at an early age in the STEM-arena are an important asset to the State of Iowa, our residents and our businesses. It is exciting to be a part of the STEM-movement in Iowa and help expand the reach of our programs,” said Thomas Dodds, BASF Site Manager. 

To learn more about the STEM Advisory Council, visit www.iowastem.org/council.

Each year, the STEM Council seeks to provide top STEM education opportunities to all learners. With the intent to seed, jumpstart or expand little-known and exemplary programs proven to inspire and educate PreK-12 students, the STEM Scale-Up Program selects outstanding STEM programs through a rigorous review process.

Iowa Leadership in Engineering Design (ILED) was one of 13 programs featured on the Scale-Up Program menu for the current academic year. Ken Turner, professor of science education at the University of Dubuque and program director for ILED, shared, “Our first application was not accepted, but that application had been well-received. It is just a very competitive process. We paid close attention to the feedback provided by the reviewers of our application and our second application was accepted.”

Each program on the Scale-Up Program menu must provide professional development to help educators prepare for and effectively teach the programs to Iowa youth. “Iowa is a large state with many diverse communities,” said Turner. “We are glad to provide the educators of Iowa STEM support through engineering design activities that engage students and are as unique as every school district, community center, extension office and educational pathway across Iowa.”

To potential Scale-Up Program providers, Turner said, “If you have or can develop a program that benefits educators and their students, you should pursue the Iowa STEM Scale-Up. It is an incredible opportunity to impact the next generation, to enlarge their horizons, to keep Iowa and Iowa citizens competitive in every arena and to make the world a better place.”

Learn more about the Scale-Up Program at www.iowastem.org/Scale-Up.