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Emphasis on STEM fields helps students, businesses

Federal official visits UD facility that works with business, industry.

Jay Williams, director of the Office for Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, speaks with students at the University of Dayton School of Engineering's Innovation Center Thursday after holding a round-table discussion and press conference at UD. Williams discussed the importance of encouraging students to pursue careers in high-growth STEM fields.

Jim Witmer Jay Williams, director of the Office for Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, speaks with students at the University of Dayton School of Engineering's Innovation Center Thursday after holding a round-table discussion and press conference at UD. Williams discussed the importance of encouraging students to pursue careers in high-growth STEM fields.

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer 10:43 PM Thursday, February 9, 2012

DAYTON — In the past two weeks, Ohio has been lauded for receiving good grades in K-12 science education, listed as one of the states driving the nation’s recovery from the recession through manufacturing and singled out as a reinvestment site for U.S. automakers.

Given that kind of buzz, it makes sense that Jay Williams, director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, would stop in Ohio to discuss the importance of pursuing careers in STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and math.

Williams, a Youngstown native who is visiting multiple states this winter, spoke Thursday at the University of Dayton’s Innovation Center.

He said the Innovation Center, where UD engineering students get real-world experience by working with external clients, reinforces a priority of President Obama — and one echoed by Gov. John Kasich this week — to make sure that education matches the needs of the work force.

“By having businesses and industries do partnerships and design curriculums ... we can have students come out with skill sets that increase the relevance of that student,” said Williams, adding that businesses then save money on training that employee.

“Businesses would also know the type of employee they’re getting.”

UD engineering students said they believe this exposure to private sector work has better prepared them for the work force.

“Most of the engineers I know who are graduating have gotten several (job) offers,” senior Brian Willebrand said. “I haven’t heard of anyone who hasn’t.”

John Malone added that he and his fellow seniors also benefit from the timing of their schooling, and that the state and the country are working out of the recession.

“Freshman year, I remember thinking, ‘I’m happy we will have four years,’ ” Malone said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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