Girls Experiencing Engineering: Evolution, Impact, and

Resources

Stephanie Ivey, PhDDepartment of Civil

EngineeringThe University of Memphis

Shelli BrasherCollierville High SchoolShelby County Schools

Agenda• Background

• Program Evolution

• Lessons Learned

• Program Impact

• Program Resources

• 2013 Opportunities

Background• Co-educational programs

since 1998• CN Youth Transportation

Institute: 2004-2006• Girls Experiencing

Engineering: 2004-2013– Funded by Women’s Foundation

for a Greater Memphis and IFTI– Designed to make young women

aware of career opportunities in engineering

– Includes professional development for STEM teachers

Program Evolution• 2004: GEE began targeting middle school girls.

• 2005: Program expanded to include high-school students as participants and peer mentoring.

• 2007: A new high school program week (focus session) was developed and leadership training was added.

• 2008: A brief orientation session for parents was introduced and educational consultants were included to develop lesson plans.

• 2011: PD workshop series developed for local school systems from program activities. 

• In 2012, more formalized parent outreach became a high priority.

Program Evolution• 2010: Replication of GEE program begins with

TRansportation Engineering Careers (TREC)

• 2012: Garret A Morgan Technology and Transportation Program Grant with Wooddale High School

• 2012: West TN STEM Hub

Lessons Learned• Meaningful hands-on activities help students understand

the connection between the simplified problems they are solving and those that STEM professionals face.

• The most important messages for us to get across to students are that STEM affords a wide variety of career options, STEM professionals must be creative problem solvers, and that they make a difference in our society.

• High school and college mentors, along with professionals who speak to participants about their careers are critical for influencing students to consider STEM majors.

Lessons Learned• Parents continue to be the most influential factor in

students’ decisions to pursue particular majors/careers.

• Providing an opportunity for repeat participation through new programming is essential to sustaining interest in STEM and encouraging students to pursue STEM majors in college.

• Maintaining contact with program participants over many years is difficult, but critical for achieving significant impact.

Impact Summary• To date:

– 1060 student participants (2004-2012)

• 85% of participants are African-American

• Nearly 1/3 of students are repeat participants

– 300 math/science teachers

– 160 high school and college mentors

– ~25% of previous participants who have graduated now enrolled in STEM majors in college*

Program Resources• Livebinders:

– http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=413629

2013 Program Opportunities• Registration opens March 15

– June 3-7 – General Engineering (high school)

– June 10-14 – General Engineering (middle school)

– June 17-21 – Transportation Engineering (high school)*

– June 24-28 – Biomedical Engineering *

– Academic year STEM workshops for teachers

Questions?