White House Author

Deena Pierott is the Founder and Executive Director of the iUrban Teen program, a program that exposes “non-traditional” STEM learners to career opportunities while encouraging high school graduation and extended learning. She was moved to create the program when she served in a governor-appointed role on the Commission on African Affairs in Washington State and observed the increasing high school dropout rate. While the target demographic for the program is African American and Latino Males, the program is inclusive of all youth who fall within the Non-Traditional STEM learners category and has a strong representation of girls as well. The program consists of an all-day summit featuring hands-on workshops, tours of industry leading businesses and courses in leadership development. While active for less than three years, the iUrban Teen program has already encouraged over 600 youth in the Pacific Northwest to pursue STEM education and, potentially, professional careers. iUrban is poised to extend its reach throughout the western United States and beyond in the coming years, encouraging youth to pursue further education while also helping to fill a shortage of STEM professionals in the United States.