STEMconnector

Last month STEMconnector and Florida International University (FIU) hosted the Harnessing Experiential Learning to Support STEM Outcomes Innovation Lab in Miami, Florida. This event brought together experts to explore how hands-on, applied learning enhances STEM education, preparing students for future careers while driving economic development and sustainability. Through engaging discussions and innovative approaches, participants highlighted the power of experiential learning in boosting student achievement and workforce readiness. ?? Want to dive deeper? Download our event brief for key highlights and actionable takeaways! ?? https://hubs.ly/Q03czYJy0 #ExperientialLearning #STEMEducation #FutureOfWork #Innovation #HandsOnLearning

?? Let's Grow Together! ?? Celebrate National Ag Day today, March 18! Discover how American agriculture shapes our future and explore exciting career paths in the agriculture, food, and fiber industries. Dive deeper at https://hubs.ly/Q03ckdnV0. Don't miss our ebook, where we uncover the vital role of STEM in food and agriculture, inspiring the next generation to seize opportunities in this dynamic field. ?? https://hubs.ly/Q03ckk960 #AgDay25

?? Elevate DEIB in Insurance! Join us for a free webinar on March 25, 2–3 p.m. ET, as we dive into the Women in Insurance Initiative (WII) and its mission to foster inclusivity and strengthen the talent pipeline. Discover seven key steps from the Catalyst Committee’s Playbook to help your organization drive meaningful change. ? Actionable DEIB strategies ? Resources to support workplace inclusivity ? Free to attend + Earn 1 CPE credit ?? Laura Deutscher, Megan Bell, Katie Hughes ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/esUc3cUz STEMconnector & Million Women Mentors #WomenInInsurance #DEIB #Leadership #CareerGrowth #InsuranceIndustry

Join us for an exciting webinar on work-based learning & STEM careers and discover how employer-sponsored work-based learning (WBL) programs are shaping the future of STEM education and workforce readiness! ?? Date: Thursday, March 20 ? Time: 2-3 PM EST ??https://hubs.ly/Q03bQW2K0 - Learn about internships, apprenticeships, and industry-sponsored projects - Gain insights on best practices for designing impactful WBL initiatives - Explore strategies to maximize student success in STEM careers Featured speakers include: * Bryan Quick, Director of Talent Acquisition, Global Early Careers, Abbott * Dr. Glade Montgomery, Ph.D., SVP of Strategic Partnerships, Project Lead The Way * Michael McCoy, Associate Director, Non-Traditional Talent Programs, Verizon Register today!

Join the Women in Insurance Initiative (WII) and Million Women Mentors community TODAY at 1:00 pm ET as we honor achievements and turn inspiration into action in celebration of International Women's Day! While inclusion in insurance progresses, there's still work to be done. That's why WII is bringing together industry change-makers for a powerful live roundtable discussion—sharing success stories, reflecting on growth, and mapping the road ahead. Moderated by WII Chair Margaret Resce Milkint, this conversation will explore how we can lead with intention, positivity, and impact, while lifting each other up as sponsors, advocates, and mentors. Hope to see you there! STEMconnector #IWD2025 #InclusionInInsurance #InternationalWomensDay #insurance #AccelerateAction

Join us March 20th for a webinar hosted in partnership with Abbott, as we explore the impact of internships, apprenticeships, cooperative education, and industry-sponsored projects in preparing students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills essential for STEM careers. Discover the secrets to designing impactful work-based learning programs. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from industry leaders and educators on fostering the next generation of STEM professionals... Register today! ??https://hubs.ly/Q039lCN_0

This International Women's Day, the Women in Insurance Initiative (WII) invites you to a powerful conversation on March 10 about breaking barriers and driving change in the industry. Register for the virtual event here: https://lnkd.in/eMTFTpNt WII will celebrate the women who are reshaping insurance with a dynamic panel moderated by WII Chair Margaret Resce Milkint and featuring Kali Bell, Brandon Keller, Christina Lucas, Marissa Peters, Lee H. V., and Dawn Walker, MBA, ARM. They'll explore: ?? Amplifying diverse voices ?? Championing equity and inclusion ?? Mentoring the next generation Let's go beyond celebration - let's act! Million Women Mentors STEMconnector #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction #insurance

At STEMconnector, we continue providing our partners ways to understand the #STEM education landscape.? Last week, we hosted a 3 day workshop in partnership with Florida International University.? We call these workshops “Innovation Labs” because our goal is to encourage participants to innovate their practices through an interactive learning environment. Our first Innovation Lab of 2025 explored experiential learning.? Thanks to our hosts at FIU, we were the beneficiaries of unique and innovative examples that enable their students to thrive in #STEM fields. Participants explored how experiential learning makes STEM come to life and relevant to students’ lives.? STEMconnector members leverage these experiences to showcase their work, learn about innovative practices, and build a national leadership network focused on ensuring that we are nurturing future generations of innovators.? Thanks to Carlos A. Becerra, Liane Sippin (Lee-Anne), Michael Cheng, PhD, CHE, Gretchen Sauerman, Gavin M., John Stuart and the all those on FIU team for their hosptality and wisdom. Thanks to participants like Diana Elrod, Drew Glassford, Colleen Bielitz, Ph.D., Angela Consani, David Wells - M.S. Ed. and others for making the program come alive. Finally, thanks for the STEMconnector team of Renee Aaron, Kylie M., and Janine Koeneke for making it all happen! Reach out if you would like to explore becoming a part of the STEMconnector community!

Last week, STEMconnector had the opportunity to hold our first Innovation Lab of 2025, all about experiential learning and its role in shaping STEM education and workforce development. The event was hosted in Miami by the gracious Florida International University and Carlos A. Becerra and WOW, this event did not disappoint! We had an incredible few days starting off with a tour of FIU campus to the state of the art Wall of Wind, Cold Spray and Rapid Deposition (ColRAD) Lab, FIU-FPL Microgrid, and the FIU STEM Transformation Institute. On day two, we had a wonderful day filled with thought-provoking discussions, including: - A warm welcome from FIU Vice Provost Michael Heithaus, with a reminder of the importance of integrating STEM education into various fields to drive economic growth and sustainability.? - The power of experiential learning in driving STEM outcomes, featuring experts from FIRST, STEM NOLA and Texas Woman's University. - The role of making & tinkering in fostering ambiguity tolerance, led by David Wells - M.S. Ed.. - Industry-academic partnerships that prepare career-ready graduates, with Gretchen Sauerman at FIU and Florida Power & Light. - Leveraging technology to scale STEM experiential learning, with insights from Florida International University, Southern Connecticut State University and Bioscience Core Skills Institute (BCSI). ??A key takeaway from the day: when students engage in real-world problem-solving, they develop the critical thinking, adaptability, and technical skills needed for the future workforce. Beyond the panels, networking with like-minded professionals and engaging in hands-on discussions reinforced the need for collaboration, innovation, and equity in STEM education. A big thank you to all our amazing host, presenters, panelists, and participants for sharing their talents and insights at our Innovation Lab! Drew Glassford, Diana Elrod, Gavin M., Liane Sippin (Lee-Anne), Natalie Cabral Ted (Theodore) W., Janine Koeneke, Renee Aaron

Celebrate International Women’s Day 2025! Join the Women in Insurance Initiative (WII) and Million Women Mentors Community on March 10th as we celebrate achievements and empower action! Inclusion in insurance is still a work in progress, and we’re committed to driving change. That’s why we’re hosting a live roundtable discussion featuring industry changemakers to reflect on progress, share success stories, and discuss the path forward. ? Moderated by Margaret Resce Milkint, WII Chair?this conversation will dive into how we can lead with intention, positivity, and impact—while championing each other as sponsors, advocates, and coaches. Who’s joining us? Register today! ??https://hubs.ly/Q038g1Hw0 #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction ALLInTent connecting insurance DEI initiatives