Acting Governor Guadagno Applauds Success of New Jersey’s First STEM Week

On Mar 13, 2015

Acting Governor Kim Guadagno recently addressed the New Jersey Tech Council’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) Conference in Livingston as she continued her recognition of New Jersey’s inaugural STEM Week.  In the past 10 years, growth in STEM jobs has been three times greater than in non-STEM jobs, with 80 percent of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States dependent upon STEM knowledge and skills.

“STEM Week has shown that investment in innovation – investment not only of our resources but of our time and expertise – is good for business, good for New Jersey and good for people everywhere,” said Acting Governor Guadagno.  “Our leadership will inspire the next generation of young people pursuing degrees and careers in STEM fields, and the steps we take today will prepare them for the 21st-Century jobs that await them.”

STEM Week events in New Jersey included:

• Lt. Governor Guadagno kicked off the Million Women Mentors Program in New Jersey.
• Lt. Governor Guadagno and Secretary of Higher Education Rochelle Hendricks hosted a meeting of the New Jersey STEM Pathways Network.
• Secretary Hendricks visited new laboratory facilities at Union County College’s Elizabeth campus.
• Secretary Hendricks celebrated the opening of the Health Sciences Nursing Simulation Lab at Essex County College.
• Lt. Governor Guadagno addressed the New Jersey Tech Council’s CIO Conference in Livingston.

“The new facilities at Essex and Union county colleges are prime examples of the State’s commitment to building the world-class facilities needed to help students succeed in meaningful careers,” said Secretary Hendricks, “while through our new STEM Pathways Network, we are creating an innovation ecosystem that will ensure we will have the highly-skilled workers needed to meet the economic priorities of the State.”

As the workplace of Edison and Einstein, New Jersey has long been a home for innovation.  New Jersey has the highest per-capita number of engineers and scientists and ranks among the top five US Life Sciences Clusters.  Known as the “Medicine Chest of the World,” New Jersey is home to 14 of the 20 largest biopharmaceutical companies.  More than 90,000 secondary students participate in Career and Technical Education programs offered throughout New Jersey’s 21 county vocational high schools and in more than 100 traditional high schools.  Every county features partnerships with business, industry, colleges and universities.

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