What is STEM?
An explanation of what STEM is and Alabama’s initiative in STEM
OUR MISSION
Executive Order No. 721
The STEM Council was formed by Governor Ivey under Executive Order No. 721 in September 2020.
The purpose of the Council is “to advise the Legislature, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the State Department of Education on ways to improve STEMrelated education, career awareness, and workforce development” across Alabama.
The Council builds on the work of Alabama’s Roadmap for STEM Success and is situated administratively within AIDT in the Department of Commerce.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Executive Committee
Leadership to the Council is provided by its Executive Committee, which is managed by Sheila Holt, Executive Director and chaired by Dr. Cynthia McCarty, Professor of Economics at Jacksonville State University. Daily Operations are led by Sheila Holt, and the STEM Operations team.
Members of the
Alabama STEM Council
The Council has 49 total members drawing from the 5 sectors of industries, K-12 & higher education, CTE/postsecondary training, informal STEM, and public officials/leaders. These members also occupy seats in our six (6) working groups.
Jimmy Baker
Chancellor
Alabama Community College System
Tiffany Bishop
Workforce Development Manager
Ascension
Calvin Briggs
Executive Director
Southern Center for Broadening Participation in STEM
Elisabeth Davis, Ed.D
Internship/STEM Series Coordinator – Eagles Soar | Grant
Faulkner University
Tammy Dunn
Vice President for Academic Affairs
A+ College Ready
Charles E. Elliott
Addiction Medicine
Drug Treatment Court
Eighth Judicial Circuit, Alabama
Mary Lou Ewald
Director of STEM Outreach Center
Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics
Jeff Gray
Professor, Department of Computer Science
University of Alabama
Andre Harrison
Vice President
Cognial22
John Hoyle
President
Alabama School of Mathematics and Science
Scott Haywood
Staff Engineer, Technical Development Maint & Equiq Service Dept
Honda Alabama Auto Plant
Jimmy Hull
Assistant State Superintendent for Career and Technical Education & Workforce Development, ALSDE
Liz Huntley
The Hope Institute, Co-Founder Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC, of Counsel
Kathryn Lanier
Director of STEM Education Outreach
Southern Research
Sandy Ledwell, Ed.D.
Dean, College of Education
Faulkner University
Eric Mackey
State Superintendent of Education
Tim McCartney
Chairman
Alabama Workforce Council
Cynthia McCarty
Economics Professor
Jacksonville State University
Kevin McGhaw
Director
Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement, NASA
Michael McLendon
Executive Director
AISA
Ellen McNair
Secretary of Commerce
Alabama Department of Commerce
Thomas McNeal
Workforce Development Manager
Alabama Power
Tina Miller-Way
Chair, Discovery Hall Programs
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Paul Morin
Alabama Smart Foundation
Keith Philips
Executive Director,
Alabama Technology Network
Jim Purcell
Executive Director,
Alabama Commission on Higher Education
Adrienne Starks
Founder and CEO
STREAM Innovations
Christy Swaid
Founder and CEO
HEAL, Inc. (Healthy Eating Active Living)
Kay Taylor
Vice President of Education
U.S. Space and Rocket Center
Amy Templeton
President and CEO
McWane Science Center
Brenda Terry
Executive Director
Alabama Mathematics Science, and Technology Education Coalition
Fitzgerald Washington
Secretary of ADOL
Alabama Department of Labor
Tina Watts
Community Investor
The Boeing Company
