SBU Economic Development Workforce Development Manager Derek O'Connor Wins Presidential Mini-Grant

Derek O'Connor, Workforce Development Manager, Stony Brook University Economic Development

Congratulations to Derek O'Connor, Workforce Development Manager of Stony Brook University Economic Development, on receiving a Presidential Mini-Gran for his project on bringing STEM awareness to women in underserved high schools.

The Office of Economic Development aims to increase awareness of STEM disciplines for minority and economically disadvantaged female students from underserved schools. Via our two Centers of Excellence, The Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) and the Advanced Energy Reearch and Technology Center (AERTC), along with on-campus and industry partners, we will develop a four-visit program for Longwood High School female students to participate in expert-led workshops in STEM-focused, emerging fields with educational pathways and future applied workforce needs. A cohort of 20 students will come to Stony Brook University for four, five-hour workshops next school year. Each visit will provide an introduction to content, led by a SBU or industry facilitator, faculty mentorship, hands-on activities to provide understanding of tangible outputs, and insight into a day-in-the-life of a STEM professional. Connections to academic units, student groups, and departments will be made to bring awareness about continuing their STEM journey at Stony Brook University.

The four themes of the workshops will be energy engineering, healthcare, AI/UX, and a career strategy lab. Energy, led by the NYPA Environmental Justice Office, will have students map transmission lines throughout New York, while building a mock wind turbine. Healthcare, led by the School of Health Professions, will feature a population health data challenge. In visit three, an AI/UX digital product designer will guide the students in the storyboarding of a web application’s development. The Alda Center-led Career Strategy Lab will have the students summarizing their findings, activities, and learnings, and teach them how to communicate such to faculty, industry professionals, and their teachers, while learning key resume tools such as LinkedIn.