Jeff Wright to participate in April 29 panel on STEM education

Jeff Wright, dean of Western Washington University's College of Sciences and Technology, will participate in a panel discussion April 29 about the future of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the North Puget Sound region.

The event is scheduled for 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at Everett First Presbyterian Church, located at 2936 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.

Maintaining the area's premier workforce in STEM areas is a growing challenge, and concern is mounting that reversing this trend become a top priority for state leaders. This panel discussion brings together community leaders representing various sectors of society to address the issue and its significance for the North Puget Sound region, with the goal of providing a framework that will encourage ongoing public discussion.

On the panel with Wright are Everett mayor Ray Stevenson; Robert Sotak, the director of science education at Everett Public Schools; Paul Pitre; special assistant to the president of Washington State University at the University Center of North Puget Sound; Lisa Dulude, an analyst with Energy and Sustainable Development of Snohomish County; Alison Pugh, a director, instructor and energy manager at Edmonds Community College; Mary Kaye Bredeson, director of the Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced Materials Manufacturing at Everett Community College; Melanie Jordan, president of Aviation Liaison Services with the Pacific N.W. Aviation Alliance. The discussion will be moderated by Scott Hamilton, managing director of Leeham Company in Issaquah.