University of Massachusetts > STEM > Goddard Council on STEM

For Immediate Release Contact:
April 4, 2007 Eileen O'Connor
(617) 994-6903

Goddard Council on STEM Education Meets for First Time

Discusses policy direction around education and workforce development

BOSTON - The Board of Higher Education yesterday convened for the first time the 27-member Robert H. Goddard Council on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Established in the 2006 Economic Stimulus legislation, the Council is comprised of high-level representatives from business and industry, state government, and K12 and higher education in the Commonwealth, and will advise the Board of Higher Education and the legislature on STEM workforce development programs and policy.
"Massachusetts has always been the national leader in scientific innovation," said Rep. Daniel E. Bosley (D-North Adams), co-chair of the Goddard Council and chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. "We must continue to encourage our children to pursue careers in STEM fields or we risk losing our competitive advantage as an international center of scientific creativity and imagination."
"This Council will provide valuable input and expertise to help Massachusetts retain its competitive edge and best prepare our children for the future workforce," said Patricia F. Plummer, Chancellor of the Board of Higher Education. "We look forward to working together with Council members on achieving these very important goals. The very future of the Commonwealth is at stake here."
The Council is co-chaired by Rep. Daniel E. Bosley and Sen. Steven Panagiotakos and consists of the following members:

• Mitchell Adams, Executive Director, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
• Dennis Austin, Raytheon Company (designee)
• Claudia Bach, Superintendent, Andover Public Schools
• Ken Bertrand, President, Technology Education Association of Massachusetts
• Representative Daniel Bosley, Council co-chair and Chair, Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging technologies
• Suzanne Bump, Director, Department of Workforce Development
• Michael Corey, Chief Executive Officer, Ntirety
• Robert Culver, Executive Director, Massachusetts Development Finance Agency
• Normand Deschene, President, Lowell General Hospital
• Mary Grant, President, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
• Senator Jack Hart, Chair, Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies
• David Hartleb, President, Northern Essex Community College
• Radha Jalan, Chief Executive Officer, ElectroChem Inc.
• Jean MacCormack, Chancellor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
• Howard Michel, Massachusetts Federation of Teachers (designee)
• Richard Moore, President, Tetra Tech Rizzo
• Jeff Nellhaus, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education (designee)
• Senator Steven Panagiotakos, Council co-chair and Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means
• Joyce Plotkin, President, Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council
• Patricia Plummer, Chancellor, Board of Higher Education
• Ann Reale, Commissioner, Department of Early Education and Care
• Steve Richter, President and Scientific Director, MicroTest Laboratories
• Representative Michael Rodrigues, Chair, Joint Committee on Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure
• Una Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Inc.
• Senator Bruce Tarr, Member, Joint Committee on Higher Education, Senate Ways and Means
• Anne Wass, President, Massachusetts Teachers Association
• Representative of the minority party, TBD

The Council is named for Robert H. Goddard, who is credited with being the first to construct and successfully launch a liquid-propelled rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts, in 1926. The Board of Higher Education administers the STEM Pipeline Fund, a workforce development initiative designed to encourage young people to pursue STEM careers; increase the number of STEM teachers in Massachusetts; and improve STEM education in public and private schools. The Fund was originally established with $2.5 million from the 2003 Economic Stimulus legislation and was recapitalized with $4 million in the 2006 Economic Stimulus legislation. One of the primary objectives of the STEM Pipeline Fund has been the creation of Regional PreK-16 Networks to develop collaborative approaches to education among K-12, higher education and industry.

Additional information about the STEM Pipeline Fund may be found at:  www.mass.edu/pipeline

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