"Re-Thinking STEM Outreach & Engagement: Building Capacity through Building Community"
Calvin Mackie
President and CEO
STEM NOLA
Every child, regardless of their zip code, race, or gender should have access to high-quality STEM engagement and education. STEM NOLA, the flagship affiliate of STEM GLOBAL Action, has developed a community engagement model that directly addresses the historical challenges and barriers to STEM access for underserved and low resourced communities. The model offers processes featuring intentionality and consistency, all while leveraging innovative approaches to entice community and family involvement.
Through research and years of practice, STEM NOLA understands that early and ongoing exposure and experience of youth to STEM concepts in a rigorous, culturally relevant environment is absolutely critical to unlocking the doors of economic opportunity that STEM careers uniquely provide. Our model features paid programmatic staff, college and professional volunteers, hands-on learning opportunities, and a culture of excellence which translates into a high-quality mechanism of tackling real-world challenges and fostering self agency of participants. This methodology supports long-term engagement and ongoing mentoring for regular program participants.
In this session, attendees will be provided an in-depth overview of STEM NOLA’s core programming and model, particularly its approach to captivating the hearts and minds of diverse youth, families and communities.
Miss the live session? Watch the keynote presentation now.
Dr. Mackie's Bio
Dr. Calvin Mackie is an award-winning mentor, inventor, author, former engineering professor, internationally renowned speaker, and successful entrepreneur. In 2013, Dr. Mackie founded STEM NOLA, a non-profit organization created to expose, inspire, and engage communities in the opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). To date, STEM NOLA has engaged over 100,000 K-12 students in hands-on project-based STEM activities. In 2021, he launched STEM Global Action to advance K-12 Stem education across the U.S. and the world.
A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Dr. Mackie graduated from high school with low test scores requiring him to take special remedial classes at Morehouse College. In 1990, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Morehouse College with a B.S. degree, as a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. Simultaneously, he was awarded a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, where he subsequently earned his master’s and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1996.
While pursuing a doctorate degree, Dr. Mackie served as an instructor of mathematics at Morehouse College. Following graduation, he joined the faculty at Tulane University, where he pursued research related to heat transfer, fluid dynamics, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. In 2002, he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. Mackie’s eleven-year academic career ended in June 2007, when Tulane University disbanded the engineering school in response to financial hardship induced by Hurricane Katrina. During 2004-2005 academic year, Mackie served as a visiting professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He enjoyed a respected academic career, before pivoting his career towards entrepreneurship, consulting, and professional speaking.
Mackie is also the President and CEO of the Channel ZerO Group LLC, an educational and professional development consulting company he co-founded in 1992. He has presented to numerous civic and educational institutions, government entities, professional association, and businesses of every size and industrial focus.
He has won numerous awards including 2019 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Board’s Chair Phoenix Award, which recognizes individuals whose extraordinary achievements strengthen communities and improve the lives of individuals and families, nationally and globally. In 2003, he was awarded the 2003 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in a White House ceremony.
Dr. Mackie’s is the author of two award-winning books: A View from the Roof: Lessons for Life and Business and Grandma's Hands: Cherished Moments of Faith and Wisdom.
Dr. Mackie is a devoted husband to his wife, Tracy, and father to his two sons, Myles Ahmad and Mason Amir.
For more information, visit www.stemnola.com and stemglobalaction.com.
Listen to Dr. Mackie’s podcast series, “Let’s Talk Stem with Dr. Calvin Mackie,”