Black Girls of STEM: how 4 entrepreneurs are altering science, technologies, engineering and math

By Megan Sayles,
AFRO Small business Writer,
msayles@afro.com

Science, technologies, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers are some of the highest-paying, quickest-increasing professions on the job industry. In 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual wage across all STEM occupations was $95,420 compared to $40,120 for non-STEM occupations. 

But, the STEM workforce is mainly male and White. Girls and men and women of colour have struggled to get equitable representation and chance in STEM industries more than the decades. 

According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), despite the fact that girls comprise 51 % of the U.S. population, only 35 % of the STEM labor force are girls. 

For girls of colour the quantity is even reduce, with Black girls comprising a mere 1.six % of the country’s scientists and engineers. 

Civic leader Tyrone Taborn is the founder of Profession Communication Group, which aids international corporations and governments find, create and retain minorities with STEM backgrounds. The corporation annually publishes “The Girls of Colour Magazine” and the “U.S. Black Engineer &amp Data Technologies Magazine.” Each and every year, Taborn’s organization recognizes major Black female contributors in STEM with “Women of Color” awards that highlight distinct scientists, tech innovators, engineers and mathematicians.

He mentioned in order to raise women’s representation in STEM, society have to develop young women’s self-assurance in math and science, strengthen STEM education for girls, and intentionally attract, recruit and retain girls in STEM majors. 

“This lack of diversity in STEM has actual consequences for all of us. It indicates that we are not drawing on the complete variety of talent and perspectives that we have to have to resolve the complicated challenges facing our society, from climate modify to healthcare to cybersecurity. It also indicates that we are leaving a large pool of prospective innovation and financial development untapped,” mentioned Taborn.

“That’s why it is so critical that we produce a lot more possibilities for girls in STEM, from early education by way of to profession advancement.”

In honor of the AFRO’s unique edition for Women’s History Month, he identified 4 award-winning girls of colour who have created waves and notable contributions to the STEM fields. 

Denise Gray 

Denise Gray is the president of LG Power Answer Michigan Tech Center. As aspect of her part, she styles batteries that energy electric autos. (Courtesy of LinkedIn)

This Michigan native is the president of LG Power Answer Michigan Tech Center, the North American subsidiary of LG, a South Korea-primarily based chemical corporation. In her part, Gray styles and produces batteries that aid to energy electric autos. In 2017, she was named Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year. In 2022, she was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for her leadership in building and creating electronic controls and battery systems for electrified passenger car or truck propulsion systems. Her objectives involve escalating the adoption of electric autos and the quantity of men and women pursuing engineering and technologies jobs in the U.S.

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Norma B. Clayton

Norma B. Clayton is the former vice president for finding out, coaching and improvement for the Boeing Corporation. She transformed manufacturing processes and provide chain management in aerospace industries. (Courtesy of Tuskegee University)

Now retired from the Boeing Corporation, Clayton was the 2009 Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year. At the Boeing Corporation, she held many leadership positions in engineering, manufacturing excellence, plant operations and optimization and provide chain and procurement. In 2022, immediately after retiring as vice president for finding out, coaching and improvement at the Boeing Corporation, Clayton was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for reshaping manufacturing processes and provide chain management. She was also recognized for producing revolutionary coaching applications in industrial aerospace industries. 

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Mei Cai is the director of battery cell systems analysis for Common Motors’ Chemical and Components Technique Laboratory. She created cutting-edge technologies to find out battery components and advance battery cell manufacturing. (Courtesy of Asian American Engineer of the Year)

Mei Cai

As director of battery cell systems analysis for Common Motors’ Chemical and Components Technique Laboratory, Cai has spearheaded cutting-edge innovations that have sophisticated the discovery of battery components and streamlined battery cell manufacturing. The Beijing native has also been instrumental in building Common Motors’ Ultium battery cells, which assistance electric autos. In 2021, Cai was named the 2021 Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year.

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Delia Grenville is the director of company and operating atmosphere, fabrication components and provide chain for Intel Corporation. She invented and patented 5 digital content material technologies. (Courtesy of LinkedIn)

Delia Grenville 

A analysis scientist and technologies strategist, Grenville is the director of company and operating atmosphere, fabrication components and provide chain for Intel Corporation. More than her profession, Grenville has invented 5 digital content material technologies, most of which use the web to aid men and women filter content material streaming to their TVs. In 2015, Grenville won the Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year Award. 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member.