S4 E2: Iowa Lakes Community College President Valerie Newhouse

On this episode of STEM Essential, host and director of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council Jeff Weld sits down with Valerie Newhouse, president of Iowa Lakes Community College. She is a founding member of the STEM Council and and advocate for STEM at Iowa Lakes and beyond.

 

2:15 President Newhouse talks about her path toward education and how Iowa Lakes Community College was a leader in the STEM movement.

 

7:02 President Newhouse discusses the STEM regions across the state and how they've helped establish a strong program. Iowa Lakes Community College is the northwest STEM hub.

 

8:20 President Newhouse examines how regional hubs have helped create a STEM movement for all Iowans.

10:15 President Newhouse discusses the challenges the Council faced at the very beginning and how they were overcome.

12:48 President Newhouse talks about the application process to become the northwest hub for the STEM Council. She details the hopes and the fears she and her colleagues had. 

15:19 President Newhouse talks through how Iowa Lakes worked with other organizations who also applied for the hub spot. Collaboration helped create an outstanding environment where everyone could participate. 

17:15 President Newhouse examines how the regional committee has helped involve others in the movement. 

18:50 President Newhouse talks about how the current work of the Council stacks up to her expectations at the very beginning of the Council.

 

20:40 Jeff Weld and President Newhouse talk about the supporters who have made the movement possible.

20:15 President Newhouse thinks about what she would change about the STEM Council if she could go back to the very beginning.

23:08 Jeff Weld and President Newhouse discuss the incredible efforts of STEM regional managers and all they do. 

25:27 President Newhouse provides her thoughts on the challenges and opportunities ahead for the STEM movement. Workforce development is both the largest challenge and opportunity she sees on the horizon. 

28:38 President Newhouse examines how STEM can help in the rapidly changing educational environment.

30:18 President Newhouse talks about how STEM and Future Ready Iowa work together in the education system to show students all the career paths available to them.

31:46 President Newhouse shares her main message in STEM. STEM education is essential for every student and for the future of the state.