Jennifer M.

Jennifer is a dedicated educator and leader in STEM education, known for her commitment to increasing diversity and equity in technology and engineering fields. With a focus on empowering women, gender-diverse, and Latino students, Jennifer has spearheaded numerous initiatives to inspire historically underrepresented groups to pursue STEM careers. Through her innovative programs, mentorship, and community outreach, she has created pathways for students to thrive in these fields. One of Jennifer's initiatives is STEMpowerment, a series of conferences that connect students with industry professionals to explore careers in engineering and IT. Jennifer has also organized Girls in Tech events across multiple schools, engaging over 800 middle school girls in hands-on IT activities and mentorship opportunities. Her efforts have significantly increased female participation in STEM, with over 45% of students in Computer Science Principles classes and over 40% of participants in robotics teams being female (most of whom have been in technical and/or leadership roles). Jennifer’s students have consistently excelled, winning prestigious awards such as the Lenovo App Challenge (twice), the CTA Future Innovators Pitch Competition, and placing third in NV for the GoGirls CyberStart cybersecurity competition. Many of her students have also achieved notable industry certifications, including Microsoft Office Certifications (with advanced certifications earning college credit), IC3 certifications, and earning college credit through AP Computer Science Principles. Jennifer’s leadership extends to her work as a robotics coach for over 17 years, during which her teams have earned international acclaim. Under her guidance, her teams have achieved Hall of Fame status, won prestigious awards, and mentored students globally, including in Puerto Rico and China. She also founded a nonprofit organization, BotSwapShop.com, to promote equity among robotics teams by redistributing resources to underserved schools. She is currently building a new CS program at SECTA, and hopes to make it one of the CTE pathways SECTA offers as a major course of study. In the coming years, her goals (minimally) include increasing diversity among students, offering AP CS A (a higher level CS course), and offering an Industry Recognized Credential course allowing students to earn multiple certifications in the AWS educational pathway. Her accomplishments have earned widespread recognition, including five NCWIT Award winners among her students and invitations to speak at the Amazon Web Services Women in STEM panel and the National Academy Foundation. Jennifer’s passion for STEM education and her ability to foster inclusive, high-achieving environments make her a transformative figure in empowering the next generation of innovators.