“Innovate-Educate New Mexico has put together an impressive team that will give our students a crucial advantage and ensure that our country remains competitive. I look forward to our continued work together.”
Industry Supports Innovate-Educate
Blackboard, Cisco, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Qwest among the many endorsing inaugural event
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (April 22, 2009) – Technology industry leaders from across the United States will join forces next week to support innovation and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in New Mexico at Innovate-Educate New Mexico (IENM) Conference 2009 scheduled April 30 through May 2 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Representatives from nearly 20 of the county’s top IT companies have joined the IENM Board of Directors to provide a statewide vision for preparing New Mexico students to compete in today’s global economy. These companies also will partner with other education visionaries from across the state to provide a framework for the future. Next week’s conference is the first major step in the work to advance education in New Mexico by helping to build a motivated and prepared workforce.
Jessie Woolley-Wilson, president of K-12 education for Blackboard, Inc, will provide the keynote during the N.M. Public Education Ed Tech Bureau portion of the conference on April 30. She also is scheduled to speak during IENM Conference 2009.
“Today’s students have to be prepared for jobs and industries that don’t even exist yet, and they must continually refresh and update their skills as the global context changes,” explains Woolley-Wilson. “These are very real challenges, but fortunately we have real solutions with which to address them, To that end, Blackboard is pleased to be partnered with IENM in an effort to find ways to increase educational opportunity and engagement to help accelerate the adoption of 21st century skills for learners at all levels.”
Pete Cevenini, K-12 Education Lead for Cisco System’s U.S. Public Sector, notes the critical importance of STEM education and students being prepared for the future workforce. “With the increased competition from every part of the globe, New Mexico is working to provide New Mexico students with the key skills that will keep them competitive,” says Cevenini. “Cisco is proud to be a partner in this movement.”
Dr. Chris Dede of Harvard University and one of the nation’s foremost experts in innovative learning technologies will participate in The Great Debate during the second day of the conference on May 1. Dr. Dede, along with other national leaders, will debate “presidential style” as to what must happen to transform education in both New Mexico and in the U.S. “This is a time when states have exciting opportunities for transformational use of new technologies to improve students’ educational outcomes,” states Dede. “This conference will provide an exciting focus for innovations that enhance curriculum, instruction, assessment, and community involvement in learning.”
Microsoft Corporation also has signed on as an organizational partner and remains committed to partnering with New Mexico to help young people develop the science and technology skills that will facilitate their full participation in the U.S. workforce. Carla Faini, K-12 Academic Programs Manager at Microsoft says, “Students that graduate from high school and college with strong skills in these fields will play a key role in helping businesses innovate and drive out of this difficult economic environment.”
Organizers are expecting nearly 600 in attendance. IENM Conference 2009 will provide three days of dynamic collaboration that includes both keynote addresses and panel discussions by leading local and national experts. Participants also will have the opportunity to network and visit exhibits displaying programs that students across New Mexico are working on now to prepare themselves for the future.
Focus areas include higher education; K-12 educators and leadership; industry, technology leaders and chambers of commerce; government officials; economic development leaders; and state/national legislators. The last day also features the eighth annual RoboRAVE Robotics Competition.
Space is limited, and the event is nearly at capacity.
Qwest Supports IENM 2009 Conference
Innovate-Educate New Mexico Announces Speakers for Inaugural Event
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 26, 2009) – Qwest Communications has joined other visionary companies across the U.S. today in support of Innovate-Educate New Mexico’s (IENM) first national conference to advance STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and ICT (information, communication and technology) digital education on April 30, May 1 and May 2 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
“Qwest is proud to partner with Innovate-Educate New Mexico to positively impact students in the areas of engineering and science education,” said Loretta A. Armenta, Qwest president for New Mexico. “This relationship continues and expands our commitment to education, educators and students in New Mexico in order to better equip students for the future.”
The goal of IENM 2009 Conference is to initiate collaboration between industry, education and government to advance 21st century technologies in the classroom, engage students in areas that will peak their interest in science and technology fields, and keep them engaged so they remain enrolled in the school system and pursue a higher education degree. Participants will have the opportunity to network and visit exhibits displaying innovative programs, engaging education platforms, and state-of-the-art technologies being used in 21st century classrooms across the U.S.
Some of the conference’s confirmed speakers from across the U.S. include:
Bill Valdez, Director, Office of Workforce Development, U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Office of Science; Judith D’Amico, Director, U.S. Relations, Project Lead the Way; Jan Morrison, Executive Director TIES and Senior STEM Consultant for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Merrilea J. Mayo, Director of Future Learning Initiatives, Kauffman Foundation; Michael Belcher, Education Solution Director, HP; Senator Eric Reeves (N.C.), Schooldude; Jessie Woolley-Wilson, President, K-12 at Blackboard Inc.; Andy Bell, Robotics U.S. Education Director, LEGO Education North America; Michael Schmedlen, Global Education Director at Lenovo; Pete Cevenini, Cisco Systems, U.S. Lead, (Internet Business Solutions Group); Dr. William Graves, Sungard Higher Ed, Senior VP, Academic Strategies; Kim Adams, Vice President of Human Resources, Lockheed Martin, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Norm Hollyn, USC School of Cinematic Arts; Celeste Alleyne and Dr. Carla Faini, Microsoft Corporation; Colleen Jenkins, SAS, U.S. P-20 Industry-Education Strategist; and Bill Bowman, Regional VP, Apple, Inc.
CLICK HERE to view our full speaker line-up and biographies.
This will be an eye-opening event with a dynamic agenda to engage K-12, higher education, non-profit education, industry and government participants. Focus areas include higher education, K-12 educators and leadership, industry, technology leaders and government officials, economic development leaders and state/national legislators. The last day features the 8th Annual RoboRAVE Robotics Competition where more than 350 middle and high school students will compete for cash, awards, trophies, banners and prizes with line-following robots.