The STEM-UP Network, a women-in-STEM social enterprise powered by Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, recently received the 2018 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.

The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The STEM-UP Network will be featured, along with 77 other recipients, in the September 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

Inspiring Programs in STEM Award winners were selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives. The STEM-UP Network provides women in STEM with real-world strategies, relationships, and a strong community that support their ability to flourish, prosper and advance both personally and in their careers.

“The STEM-UP Network is honored to receive the Inspiring Programs in STEM Award,” said Dr. Bili Mattes, a founder and executive director of the STEM-UP Network, who is also Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. “We’ve been doing this work in support of women in STEM professions for eight years and continue to see great results.

“We took on this work for many reasons including the business case for attracting, retaining, and advancing more women in STEM. Namely, over 70 percent of jobs today require STEM skills, yet only 24 percent of the STEM workforce is made up of women who make up about half of the entire workforce. And we lose 50 percent of women professionals in STEM in the first 10 to 12 years. We have responded to this loss with a growing support network that includes tried and true programs and services that support women to thrive and advance in their STEM professions, and, ultimately, support our ability to be economically competitive both nationally and globally.”

During the past year, The STEM-UP Network grew its base by nearly 400 members. It expanded its program reach to Philadelphia, where HU opened its new location in 2017, and the group and Dr. Mattes recently won another prestigious advocacy award. Dr. Mattes was the 2018 Moxie Award Winner at the Women in Technology Awards presented by the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania.

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”

For more information about the 2018 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award and INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, visit insightintodiversity.com.