Panel - “Diversifying STEM Education: Challenges and Best Practices” Season 5 (2014)

The quality of the future U.S. labor market depends on both education and job skills, and, if the United States wants to remain competitive, our ability to produce high levels of educated and skilled workers is critical to the overall performance of its participation in a global economy. The increasingly globalized economy also means that the U.S. is facing more competition as other nations increase their skills in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Increasing the representation of Latinos in STEM fields is therefore absolutely vital to the economic and scientific advancement in the United States, as Latinos accounted for more than 50% of our country’s population growth during the last decade. Yet only 8% of Latinos nationwide graduate with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field. This panel of industry experts and college administrators will discuss challenges and best practices for creating successful community college-to-four-year college pathways in STEM fields for Latino students.

Introduction:
- Jessica G. Mendoza, Coachella Valley High School Teacher - Department of Mathematics, and Doctoral Candidate, Educational Leadership Program, CSUSB
Panelists:
- Pilar Montoya, CEO, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
- Dr. Gisele Ragusa, Associate Professor, Division of Engineering Education, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California
- Marvin Martinez, President, East Los Angeles College
- Emanuel Pleitez, Strategist, Qlovi and Chairman, Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Moderator:
- Dr. Gustavo Chamorro, Deputy Sector Navigator, ICT/Digital Media – Rancho Santiago Community College District

This panel is date/time stamped: March 27, 2014; 11:20 a.m to 12:00 p.m.