Carmel High partners with Stanford to help underrepresented students break into STEM careers
Michelle Titterton
Updated 1/18/2021 8:24 PM
Michelle Titterton realized while in college and after working in the energy sector for 15 years that there is a glaring scarcity of female and minority workers in engineering and science fields.
Women, certain minorities and students with disabilities are underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers, said Titterton, now chair of Carmel Catholic High School's science department.
"It's a pipeline issue," she said. "We can do a lot at the high-school level."
It's why the Mundelein school is participating in Stanford University's STEP-UP program, which aims to reduce barriers for underrepresented minorities, first-generation college-goers and disadvantaged students interested in pursuing a major in STEM fields. The program is funded by the National Institutes of Health.