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STEM Investment Council

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About

The STEM Investment Council assists "the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission [HECC] in jointly developing and overseeing a long-term strategy that advances the following educational goals related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics" (ORS 326.500). Voting and advisory members consist of Oregonians in the public and private STEM/STEAM and education sector.

Goals

  • Inspire and empower our students to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing, technologically rich, global society.
  • Ensure equitable opportunities and access for every student to become a part of an inclusive innovation economy.
  • Continuously improve the effectiveness, support, and number of formal and informal P-20 STEM educators.
  • Develop a sustainable funding and policy environment for STEM and CTE that provides reliable, seamless, and sufficient support across biennia

Innovation Strategic Priorities


Elementary Science

This priority aligns with STEM Investment statutes, highlighting 5th-grade science outcomes, and it recognizes that integrated science is a meaningful teaching approach, especially in elementary schools.

Middle School Math

This priority aligns with the Governor's accountability efforts, highlighting 8th-grade math outcomes and providing a pathway forward to Mathways work, which emphasizes academic success in high school mathematics. Work includes activities and/or professional development opportunities.

Computer Science 

This priority reflects the ongoing commitment to ensure students acquire Computer Science foundation skills for workforce readiness in our technology-driven age. Work includes activities and/or professional development opportunities.

Career Connected Learning

This priority reflects a core value of the STEM Investment Council’s desire to continue to emphasize these activities both as integrated with the priorities above, as well as remaining its own activity group. Work includes activities and/or professional development opportunities.

There are several key legislative actions that direct public STEM education in Oregon. House Bill (HB) 2636 (2013) established the STEM Investment Council, which assists the State of Oregon in developing and overseeing a long-term strategy to meet STEM education goals. The STEM Investment Council created Oregon’s 2021-2025 STEM Education Plan, which outlines the state of STEM education in Oregon, the importance of STEM for equity in education, and puts forward four primary goals.

House Bill 3232 (2013) authorized funds for several education programs; related to STEM, the bill authorized the Connecting to the World of Work program which established Oregon’s Regional STEM Hub Network and relevant grants to improve equity and proficiency of students in STEM content and careers at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

House Bill 3072 (2015) established a funding mechanism for Career and Technical Education grants, STEM Education grants, and organization or “backbone” funding for Oregon’s Regional STEM Hub Network. The STEM Education grants authorized by HB 3072 are those referred to as STEM Innovation Grants; these grants are managed by the STEM Hubs to bring innovative, experiential STEM learning to Oregon’s students. Each grant aligns with at least one goal from the Oregon 2021-2025 STEM Education Plan.

Annual or biennial reports are written by the STEM Investment Council, ODE, and HECC, to respond to the directives of HB 2636 and HB 3072. The 2023 report required by HB 3072 can be read online, and reports from prior years can be requested from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

Related Bills

Related Statutes and Rules:
ORS 326.500 Establishment of STEM Investment Council (HB 2636)
ORS 327.372- 327.385 Establishment of the Regional STEM Hub Network and the STEM Investment Grant Program (HB 3072)
ORS 327.820 Strategic Investments (HB 3232)
ORA 581-017-0301​ Strategic Investments (HB 3232)​

​Upcoming Meetings
December 3, 2025 Public Meeting Notice​

Past Meetings
September 2025 Agenda & Minutes
June 2025 Agenda & Minutes
May 2025 Agenda & Minutes
February 2025 Agenda & Minutes
October 2024 Agenda & Minutes
January 2024 Agenda & Minutes
August 2023 Agenda & Minutes
June 2023 Agenda & Minutes
For records of the past public meetings of this Council, contact the HECC Office of Workforce Investments.​



Beebot

​Council Voting Members & Industries
KS Venkatraman, Chair Software & Artificial Intelligence
Beth Alcouloumre Aerospace
Bryan Fix Healthcare
Herb Fricke Architecture & Engineering Design
Rita Hansen Clean Energy
Nikki Salenger Semiconductors
Marv Nelson (Pam Parlow representing) Advanced Manufacturing
Marcelino Alvarez​ Clean Energy

Council Advisory (Non-Voting) Members & Industries

Kristen Harrison STEM Hub
David Melville STEM Hub
Kristi Lebkowsky K12 Education
Jill Hubbard University
Brook Rich ESD Administration
Heidi Sipe K12 Administration
Eric Anderson K12 Administration
Dr. Jarrod Lockhart Healthcare, University
Ton Zhang University
Nagi Naganathan University
Jessica Howard Community College
Fidel Ferrer Community-Based Organization
Antonio Jackson Community-Based Organization
Kyle Ritchey-Knoll Industry, Education & Workforce Policy
Deb Mumm-Hill STEM Nonprofit

STEM Hub Directors
Kristen Harrison Portland Metro STEM Hub
Julia Betts South Metro STEM Partnership
David Melville Greater Oregon STEM​
Kama Almasi Oregon Coast STEM Hub​
Tracy Willson-Scott Central Oregon STEM Hub
Teresa Middleton Umpqua Valley STEM Hub
Julie Cucuel Columbia Gorge STEM Hub
Gabriel Gellon Lane County STEM
Karla Clark Southern Oregon STEM Hub​
Jarvez Hall East Metro STEM Hub
Sarah Whiteside Mid-Valley STEM Hub
Nickie Shira Frontier STEM Hub
Chris Hesselbein NW STEM Hub​​

Student in science lab

For more information, please contact the ODE STEM team at ode.stem@ode.oregon.gov