Every day I have the privilege of helping underserved students realize their potential to be the first in their families to receive a STEM degree. But for my student population and many across Washington State, our students are also having to make their way in an industry that doesn’t represent their socioeconomic, racial, and gender identities.

Women, for example, make up half of the workforce but hold only 26% of STEM careers, according to the Census Bureau. Black people make up 11% of the U.S. workforce but represent 9% of STEM workers, while Hispanics comprise 16% of the U.S. workforce but only 7% of all STEM workers. This lack of representation adds an added barrier to the typical college experience for our underrepresented students (defined by the NSF as Latinx, African American, Pacific Islander, Native American, women, and persons with disabilities) that can lead to imposter syndrome and STEM attrition. This is of national concern because STEM industries are projected to grow exponentially, but do not have enough STEM talent to fill these roles. The best remedy for both employers seeking diversified talent and students developing their STEM identity is applied learning, specifically in the form of internships.

To meet the demand for an innovative and diverse STEM workforce in Washington State, WTIA has partnered with AppConnect NW and Washington MESA to connect companies with untapped talent at the local community and technical colleges.

“Community college students are really well-positioned for internships in the tech sector,” said Brianna Rockenstire, director of industry outreach for AppConnect NW. “Not only do they have diverse backgrounds and experiences, but they’re also learning the most in-demand skills and are eager to grow their professional experience.”

Both two- and four-year degrees are offered at the technical and community colleges, which are best suited to contribute to reducing the STEM equity gap because of their accessibility and affordability, which attracts a large number of low-income and underrepresented students. In fact, 45% of students attending WA State community and technical colleges are students of color and 38% receive need-based financial aid. WA’s community and technical colleges offer 80+ applied bachelor’s degrees; many are in technical fields such as software/application development, information systems, networking, cybersecurity, and digital gaming.

Internships offer a tremendous benefit to both student and employer.  They give students the opportunity to apply their learning to real world problems while making connections; and give employers the opportunity to develop future talent at very little cost. Aeone Singson, Seattle Central College graduate and MESA scholar, is a great example of how internships can be mutually beneficial:

“My internship with Novo Nordisk was an invaluable educational experience. It prepared me for my current career as a software engineer at Microsoft by demystifying the user experience design process. I learned how to absorb knowledge and apply it efficiently and meaningfully. I really appreciated the opportunity to work with such a talented team of engineers and experience their process. Their mentorship provided a solid foundation for how I conduct myself professionally. I am grateful for MESA for making this connection that proved to be an important step in the continuation of my career.”

Inspired by the attendees of the 2018 FullCon Tech Conference, our efforts to provide internships to community and technical college students was echoed by educators, tech companies, and stakeholders as a necessary component to “grow, improve and/or strengthen our tech community” in Washington State. This could not come at a better time. STEM occupations continue growing, with “Washington employers anticipating 740,000 job openings by 2021,” according to Washington STEM. What I learned at the FullCon Tech conference was that employers are eager to provide internships and diversify their companies, but did not have the proper channels for finding diverse student interns.

WTIA is simplifying the process of finding STEM talent by connecting employers directly to representatives from over 17 WA community and technical colleges through the AppConnect NW and WA MESA partnership. Companies can post their internships through the WTIA portal, which is shared with hundreds of students with the skills, curiosity, and passion companies are looking for in an intern and future employee.

If you are a STEM company looking for the next generation of STEM leaders, post your internship with us! Need assistance creating an internship job description? You will receive our internship guidebook once you sign up.

If you’d like to work on Plays like these, join us at FullConTech in October.