The University of Iowa’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program will be the first Femineer affiliate university in the nation outside of California.

The Femineers is a nationally recognized program developed and funded by Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering since 2013 to inspire and empower K–12 underrepresented female students to pursue education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It incorporates project-based learning, which is a direct reflection of Cal Poly Pomona’s motto: “Learn by Doing.” The program was recognized by the White House in 2015 for increasing educational outcomes and opportunities for female Latino K–12 students. The curriculum consists of three 30-hour modules that can be implemented in school or as an after-school program.

The new WiSE co-director for recruitment and outreach, Chelle Lehman, will be the affiliate director for the K–12 female outreach program in Iowa. Lehman traveled to Cal Poly Pomona for hands-on training on Oct. 27 and 28 in the Femineer Creative Robotics program. This is the first of three modules developed at Cal Poly Pomona. Doyle Massey, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) computer science teacher at Davenport West, will be piloting the Femineer Program during the 2016–17 school year. The UI College of Engineering WiSE Femineer Program will host teacher training workshops beginning in the summer of 2017.