Ivey names new members to STEM Council leadership

Governor Kay Ivey announced new appointments Monday to the Alabama STEM Council’s executive committee, adding leaders from business, education and industry.

The council serves as the state’s coordinating body for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and workforce development initiatives.

“The Alabama STEM Council is helping ensure our students are equipped with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing economy,” Ivey said. “These appointees bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, and I am confident they will help continue the council’s important work.”

Representative Terri Collins, R-Decatur, who chairs the House Education Policy Committee and has long championed STEM-related initiatives in the Legislature, was named chair of the council.

New regional representatives appointed to the executive committee include Dr. Charles Elliott for Region 1; Farley Thompson Fink of ACI, a Wencor/HEICO company, for Region 2; Matthias Goetz of IAC Group for Region 3; Kristen Julbert of Regions Bank for Region 4; Daniel Mullenix of GreenPoint Ag for Region 5; Kate Killebrew for Region 6; and Jeremy Doggette of ArcelorMittal Calvert for Region 7.

Additional appointments include Josh Williams, who will represent career technical education and higher education; Ethan Mattocks of Airbus, who will represent the aerospace industry; and Charisse Stokes of Tidal IT Solutions, who will represent technology and entrepreneurship.

The appointments were made in conjunction with Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed. Reed said the group will help ensure students understand how STEM skills can translate into careers available in Alabama.

“By bringing together voices from education, business and industry, the council will play an important role in helping students understand where STEM can take them and how those skills connect to meaningful careers right here in Alabama,” Reed said.

State leaders continue to discuss workforce development as a key component of Alabama’s economic growth. In recent years, Alabama has attracted billions of dollars in investment from aerospace, automotive and technology companies, creating increasing demand for workers with technical skills.

The Alabama STEM Council was first established in 2020 through Executive Order 721 after legislation creating the body stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Ivey said the state needed to better prepare students for careers in emerging industries.

“As Alabama continues to emerge as a leader in aerospace engineering, cyber technology and advanced manufacturing, it is more important than ever that we prepare our students for these careers,” Ivey said when she announced the council’s creation.

Ivey added that creating the council would “ensure Alabama remains competitive in the global economy.”

The Legislature later codified the council into state law, formally establishing it as the state’s lead entity for evaluating and coordinating STEM programs and partnerships among educators, employers and community organizations.

Operating within the Alabama Department of Workforce, the council works to align education and training opportunities with employer demand, an effort state leaders say will be critical as Alabama competes for future investment in manufacturing, aerospace, cybersecurity and other high-tech industries.