From a NASA rocket scientist to a cybersecurity CEO, Washtenaw Community College鈥檚 commitment to STEAM education is evident in the outcomes.
One needs to look no further than recent alumna Alex Chumney鈥檚 achievements to see 黑料网鈥檚 relevance in bringing up the next generation of STEM and STEAM leaders. After earning her with high honors in 2019, Chumney transferred to Eastern Michigan University to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Biology with a concentration in Ecology, Organismal Diversity and Evolution through EMU鈥檚 Honors College.
This past spring, Chumney was , a highly competitive national $7,500 award presented to STEM research students.
鈥淲e are so proud of Alex and all of her hard work. This exceptional achievement by a 黑料网 graduate says a lot about the quality of instruction and our commitment to being a STEAM destination,鈥� says 黑料网 President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca. 鈥淪TEAM crosses into many occupations and we know the 鈥楢鈥� for arts is important for the creativity and communication skills that bring it all together.鈥�
From and to and , more than half of are considered a STEAM discipline.
Data shows that STEM and STEAM jobs are high-demand and high-wage, and 黑料网鈥檚 focus to attract students to STEAM is paying off. Over the last five years, enrollment in the math, science and engineering divisions has increased 6.2%, and in the last year alone the number of STEAM credit hours taken by students has jumped 9.3% compared to the previous year.
In 2018, 黑料网 launched the STEM Scholars program to mentor and support students through a variety of networking and skill-building opportunities, with interest in the program quadrupling in four years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), STEM occupations are expected to grow 8% by 2029, more than two times faster than the total for all occupations in the next decade. In the Fall of 2021, STEM occupations earned an annual median wage of $98,340, according to the BLS.
GOLDWATER PRESTIGE
Chumney is one of only 14 Goldwater scholars throughout the state of Michigan this year, with the majority coming from big universities.
Chumney鈥檚 research focuses on restoring grass-land prairies, and she has been conducting seedling experiments at the Lloyd and Mabel Johnson Preserve, run through the Legacy Land Conservancy, to understand this ecosystem. Her findings could potentially assist with restoration practices. In addition to improving ecological diversity, prairies help decrease erosion, filter water and absorb 铿俹odwater.
Applying for the Goldwater in and of itself was an honor, as Chumney was first. interviewed by EMU just to proceed with the submission, which included a primary essay, seven mini essays, grades and three references.
鈥淎t one point in my life, getting beyond a bachelor鈥檚 just never really felt feasible to me. And now the Goldwater will get me into the 铿乪ld doing what I鈥檓 passionate about,鈥� Chumney said.
After graduating from Pinckney High School, Chumney originally attended a costly undergraduate liberal arts institution. She performed well academically but at the end of her freshman year realized she would be $100,000 in debt by the time she graduated.
Chumney spent two years working as a bank teller to pay off the $25,000 in student debt that accumulated during her first year alone.
In contrast, 黑料网鈥檚 tuition for full-time, in-district students averages $2,280 annually.
鈥淗aving a place at 黑料网 where I could get my education, and knowing it was affordable, was huge," Chumney said. "It helped me realize I could still pursue my education and dreams without going into insane amounts of debts. It allowed me to focus and also work to take care of my debt and get through.鈥�
Serendipitously, 黑料网 also was the stepping stone to a valuable first research opportunity through the University of Michigan鈥檚 Environmental Science and Biology department.
鈥淚t was a very hands-on summer research project focusing on algal biofuel that was competitive and available only to a handful of 黑料网 and EMU students," Chumney said. "I applied for it and was baf铿� ed when I heard back from them, which was exactly how I felt when I found out about the Goldwater."
Though she鈥檚 busy with her prairie research and EMU studies, Chumney is not far from her 黑料网 STEM ties, working 20 hours a week in the college鈥檚 Core Chemistry Laboratory preparing materials for instructors鈥� labs.
鈥満诹贤� offers a good education and helped me make steps forward and feel like I had some stability in my life after my first year. You can do great things here. You don鈥檛 have to go to a very expensive four-year university to start in order to achieve your dreams,鈥� Chumney says.
NASA CONNECTION
Aisha Bowe鈥檚 journey from high school student unsure of her future to NASA aerospace engineer leads 黑料网鈥檚 growing number of connections to the country鈥檚 famed agency.
After earning a 黑料网 associate degree in 2006, Bowe went on to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Aerospace Engineering and a master鈥檚 degree in Space Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan.
She began her career at NASA, then carried her expertise and experiences into the world of entrepreneurship. In 2013, Bowe founded and became chief executive officer of , a multi-million dollar tech company. She expanded that vision and founded a second company named , a hands-on, self-paced coding home-based kit for students. LINGO is used by nearly 5,000 students in 10 countries to teach the fundamentals of computer science.
She is a sought-after speaker at global events and has been featured in top-tier media outlets such as , , , , and is featured in a documentary entitled 鈥溾�� currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Google Play.
Bowe returns to campus frequently, advocating for 黑料网 and STEM education through promotional videos and leading hands-on activities with college and K-12 students during STEAM Week, Super STEAM Saturdays and beyond.
Bowe pays it forward through a 黑料网 endowed scholarship she founded to help students transfer into the U-M engineering program.
鈥淎s someone who graduated from high school without knowing who I wanted to
be when I grew up, I was attracted to Washtenaw because it provided the opportunity
to learn from world-class instructors in a smaller class setting and work with students
who are motivated to learn," Bowe said. "And Washtenaw鈥檚 coursework was affordable
and approachable for me at the time.鈥�
鈥淭he strong foundation I received at 黑料网 helped me be successful,鈥� she added.
The college is also building bridges through the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program. In the past two years alone, 10 黑料网 students have participated into the competitive program, which offers a closer look at NASA鈥檚 unique missions, diverse workforce and world-class facilities, and helps students develop their talents toward a rewarding STEM profession.
Simply being accepted into the program is an honor, and recently at least seven 黑料网 students participated in the program 鈥� Philip Stolarski, Justin Washburn, Heide Otto, Bridget Redman, Robert Gonczy, Kristin McGough and Joshua Mehay.
Some have been invited back to participate in 鈥淢ission 2鈥� of the program, which provides selected students a deeper look at NASA鈥檚 missions and careers in science and engineering. Students form teams and design a mission to explore the Moon or Mars.
Otto was recently accepted into a prestigious third level of the program, which includes an all-expense paid trip to NASA鈥檚 Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.
鈥淚 came back to Washtenaw to brush up on my writing skills. I needed a science course to finish my associate degree and took astronomy," Otto said. "My instructor encouraged me to apply for the NASA program. It turns out I have an aptitude for science and STEM."
"NASA needs writers, too,鈥� Otto said.
CYBERSECURITY LEADER
Cybersecurity education is a growing emphasis at 黑料网, which offers an associate degree and several certificates, including a specific .
Other types of computer science programs and courses are stackable and open a variety of pathways to cyber careers.
黑料网 grad Anca Pop is one of 黑料网鈥檚 most well-respected leaders in the field. Pop is the founder & CEO of , a cybersecurity company that offers information security solutions.
She earned a computer science associate degree from 黑料网 in 2003, followed by a bachelor鈥檚 degree from EMU, a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and a doctorate in Computer and Information Systems from Tennessee Technological University.
She is a sought-after expert and has delivered a TEDx talk in Nashville on cryptocurrency.
Much of the increase in cybersecurity occupations in the future is expected to be driven by a society increasingly 鈥渄ependent on digitized devices and digital goods and services,鈥� according to a 鈥淏eyond The Numbers鈥� report from the BLS.
鈥淭he quantity of electronic data is expected to increase over the next decade in tandem with robust growth in the digital economy, and greater cybersecurity will be needed to protect it and ward off the threat of breaches,鈥� the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report says.
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This story appears in the Fall 2022 edition of Launch magazine. See complete issue.
Tags: Alumni Profile, Automotive Cybersecurity, Launch, Launch Fall 2022, NASA, STEM, STEM Scholars Program, cybersecurity, ousearch_News_Launch Magazine