#TeamMITRE Spotlight: Andrea Heithoff

We’re recognizing MITRE employees from our STEM Business Resource Group to learn more about their impactful work to support STEM outreach here and in the community. Meet Andrea.

At MITRE, Andrea is working with the US Army Pacific to stand up their Chief Data Officer organization and develop initiatives to help implement the Army Data Plan. This year, she organized a STEM and Robotics Expo for several DC FIRST Lego League teams, with support from MITRE volunteers and our STEM council.

“We gave about 100 elementary and middle school kids a chance to showcase their robots and attend demonstrations from two high school robotics teams using more advanced components. We also showcased interactive energy models and conducted a paper airplane contest. We were able to bring this event into the community, putting it in reach of kids who don’t have the transportation options to get to larger events at venues outside of DC. The most rewarding moment for me came from seeing a student I coached in robotics 6 years ago return as a member of her high school team!”

Q: Why is being engaged with STEM outreach important to you?

AH: I was lucky enough to be raised by an engineer and a math teacher, which meant that I got to learn about STEM very early in my life and was encouraged to stay curious. This support is what helped me stop pretending I wasn’t good at math (because that wasn’t what girls were supposed to do) and be the curve breaker in my high school math classes. If I can help kids get some exposure to STEM that is fun, I hope to give them the same confidence to brush off any assumptions people may have of them just for who they are.

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Q: Who inspires you most and why?

AH: The kids I coach in robotics. Every iteration of teams has included some of the most curious and interested kids you’ll ever meet. Seeing them be very honest about what they want to do and what they don’t like reminds me to do the same.

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Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?

AH: Don’t be so worried about being a nerd. Your people are out there, and you’ll have fun being nerdy together.

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Make sure to check out our other STEM employee spotlights below:

-??????? Melvin Lin