Industry leaders, city officials, and educators gathered at Caltech to develop strategies for equipping students with future-ready skills.
PASADENA, CA – Leaders from science, technology, education, and government gathered at Caltech on September 13, 2024, for the Pasadena Educational Foundation’s (PEF) SciTech Roundtable. The event featured dynamic discussions and collaborative dialogue aimed at equipping Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in future careers and drive technological innovation.
“This roundtable is just the beginning. It marks an important step in ensuring that Pasadena students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Patrick Conyers, PEF Executive Director. “By bringing together diverse perspectives from industry, education, and the community, we can create a roadmap for college and career readiness that meets the evolving needs of our workforce and society.”
The invitation-only event, held at Caltech, featured a discussion moderated by Heather Backstrom, Executive Facilitator and PEF Board Member.
Key topics explored during the two-hour session included:
- Essential skills for future workforce success
- Innovative educational approaches
- Strategies for equitable access to opportunities
- The role of community partnerships in enhancing outcomes
The event featured a distinguished group of participants, including:
- Mitch Aiken, Associate Director of Educational Outreach, Caltech
- Heidy Arriola, Regional Account Manager, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions
- Erik Berg, President, Tyton LLC
- Mimi Carter, Partner, Carterus Strategies
- Helen Chan Hill, Chief Academic Officer, PUSD
- Bassil Dahiyat, President & CEO, Xencor
- Vannia De La Cuba, Deputy from the Office of the Mayor, City of Pasadena
- Maggie Hendrie, Dean of Media & Technology, ArtCenter College of Design
- Alexander Hernandez, Assistant to City Manager, City of Pasadena
- Veronica Jaramillo, Dean of Natural Sciences, Pasadena City College
- David Klug, Director of Economic Development, City of Pasadena
- Zach Mank, Director, Engineering, HoneyBee Robotics
- Chris Mattman, Chief Data & Artificial Intelligence Officer, UCLA
- Rob McClinton, Board President, Innovate Pasadena
- Karina Montilla Edmonds, Senior VP, SAP | PEF Board Member
- Nadirah Nayo, Director, Curriculum, Instruction, Professional Development, & Ed Tech, PUSD
- Deborah Orret, Computer Science Teacher, App Academy Curriculum Designer, PUSD
- Claire Ralph, Director, Career Achievement, Leadership, & Exploration | Lecturer, Caltech
- Jeff Rich, Outreach Coordinator, Carnegie Science
- Amir Sadjadpour, Lead Structural Engineer, TMT International Observatory
- Kristina Turley, Director, Planning, Innovation, Accountability, & Special Projects, PUSD
- Pamela Weatherspoon, VP, Enterprise, DEI, Engagement & Wellness, Huntington Health
The roundtable builds on PEF’s ongoing commitment to advancing science and technology education. PEF supports hands-on learning experiences, teacher professional development, and cutting-edge technology in classrooms.
Insights and recommendations from the roundtable will inform PUSD and PEF’s future programming and partnerships to strengthen the science and technology education pipeline in Pasadena. The next roundtable is scheduled to be held in mid-November 2024.
More on the SciTech Initiative can be found here: pased.org/scitech
