business backgrounder | education & workforce
Washington MESA helps build pathways to college and careers
in science, technology, engineering and math, the so-called STEM
fields that power an increasing share of the modern economy.
The program works to help women and underrepresented
minorities succeed in science and technology studies. From
after-school clubs to a freshman robotics program, mentoring
to study groups, MESA was a big help, said Villasenor, the first
person in her extended family to attend college.
“I remember how my parents heavily enforced education.
It was the only way to ensure a successful future,” she said. “I
can confidently say my educational goals would not have been
achieved without MESA.”
Her success is being duplicated in public schools, two-year
colleges and universities across the state, helping increase the
graduation rate of students and expanding the state’s pool of
STEM workers with a diverse, energetic population.
It’s a crucial need. Washington, home of tech giants such
as Microsoft and Boeing, as well as a Department of Energy
national laboratory, isn’t keeping up with the need for high-tech
workers. The state has 25,000 technology jobs going unfilled for
lack of trained people to fill them.
filling the skills gap
The MESA advisory board includes representatives from
employers such as Boeing and PNNL.