Location: Central High Meeting Room

The UConn–URI Navy STEM Coalition is a leading example of connecting education with regional workforce needs in the maritime and defense sectors. Starting as a pilot funded by the Office of Naval Research, the Coalition grew into a long-term partnership with industry leaders and now runs ANCHOR, an outreach program supported by General Dynamics Electric Boat. Through curriculum development, mentoring, and hands-on experiences, the Coalition engages students from K–16 and prepares them for careers in naval engineering. Its scalable model helps meet critical workforce demands and supports the broader national security mission.

Location: Atrium

Public-private partnerships are transforming public education. Heart of America and 3M are helping young minds learn and grow, creating career and technical education spaces infused with the latest STEM/CTE advances for experiential learning that opens worlds of possibility.

A student’s physical space profoundly impacts learning. From spaces focused on engineering to robotics and advanced manufacturing, we support self-directed students, improve collaboration, reimagine traditional classroom models, and prepare students for 21st century jobs – while adding additional energy and excitement for the educators who teach in this space. We believe this energy and excitement also has the ability to transfer to the students these educators are teaching.

Partnership Director, Heart of America

Global Manager, 3M Community Impact

Location: East Meeting Room

Learn more about how the STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA) is transforming a community created national strategy into shared collaborative action. We will discuss the implementation design work done by the 284 members of the SOA coalition throughout 2025, where we defined strategies for three of our six focal areas (in and out of school, educators, and workforce development) and confirmed the ultimate aims as laid out in the SOA National Strategy.

In this Learning Session, you will learn about our collective impact process, challenges we encountered and learn about where we are headed to support seamless career pathways.   

Location: West Meeting Room

Discover how effective industry partnerships go beyond connecting companies to workforce solutions—they hinge on aligning educational programs with corporate brand strategy. In a case with NAPA Auto Parts and the LASTEM network, introducing a hands-on STEM program not only addressed technician shortages but also elevated NAPA’s reputation as a community-focused leader. The initiative engaged over 800 students, driving strong career interest and positive feedback while strengthening NAPA’s brand.

This session provides practical strategies for building impactful partnerships by integrating workforce development with brand positioning, empowering you to create meaningful connections that benefit both business and education.

CEO, Central Creativity

Location: Gallery 1

What can STEM educators learn from jazz principles? A lot. Jazz Lab™ blends creativity, collaboration, and experimentation to build the very skills STEM employers demand — problem-solving, adaptability, communication, and systems thinking. More than a program, Jazz Lab™ is a partnership model that unites schools, industry professionals, and youth organizations to expand equitable access to STEM pathways.

This session highlights how Jazz Lab™ creates hands-on, improvisation-based experiences that both inspire students and open doors to STEM futures for historically underserved learners. We’ll explore how the model can be adapted across communities to strengthen regional talent pipelines and advance a more equitable STEM workforce.