TechWomen|TechGirls Ambassador Week Begins Nov. 14

MANCHESTER, NH — Nov. 14 kicks off the 2nd Annual TechWomen Ambassador Week, where schools across New Hampshire will hold special sessions for ninth grade girls to discuss careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with women currently employed in those fields, according to a press statement. The two-hour sessions, taking place in Lebanon, Nashua, Rochester, Manchester, Derry and Berlin, are the center of the newly-launched TechWomen Ambassadors initiative, born out of the New Hampshire High Tech Council’s TechWomen|TechGirls committee.

“In its second year, the Ambassador Week program continues to amaze and engage,” said Michelline Dufort, director of business relations for the NH High Tech Council. “The TechWomen|TechGirls committee is delivering a product that the industry has a huge appetite for – connecting female technologists across the state with 9th grade girls. The program is inspiring and is quickly becoming a cornerstone of the industry’s STEM pipeline-filling efforts.”

TechWomen|TechGirls is a forum focused on building a strong community of women enthusiastic about technology and supporting efforts for young women to explore STEM careers. Launched in early 2015, the committee has become an integral part of the Council’s outreach and engagement activities; and TechWomen Ambassador’s Week organizers hope to borrow the group’s vast expertise to help inspire young women.

“The theme of our event is STEMspiration – inspiring girls to explore STEM careers. We are looking for strong role models to show these 9th grade girls that they can aspire to a technical career while balancing their personal lives," said Carol Miller, who co-chairs the TechWomen Ambassador committee and is also the director of broadband technology at the NH Division of Economic Development (DRED). “We know that making an impact now will ensure that New Hampshire women can pass the baton to generations of STEMinspired girls in the future.”

Meetings will begin with a 30-minute opening talk where students will hear from professionals in many different tech fields. Then, they will participate in small roundtable discussions with other students and mentors designed to encourage aspirations of STEM related career goals and discuss the path to realize them. The TechWomen committee is seeking volunteers in STEM, bio/medical, and advanced manufacturing to volunteer as mentors and workshop leaders with students.

Learn more about the TechWomen|TechGirls initiative at nhhtc.org or volunteer for TechWomen Ambassador’s Week online at Tech Women Ambassadors Week or contact Carol Miller at 603-271-2341 or carol.miller@dred.nh.gov for more information.

Caption: MEDI, the talking and dancing robot from ChartaCloud Technologies in Portsmouth NH was a big hit at many events last year.

Submitted by Dia Kalakonas.