Actress and Best-Selling Author Danica McKellar and DeVry University Host National HerWorld® Month to Educate Young Women on STEM Careers

Millions of jobs will become available in STEM related fields by 2018¹, but with U.S. children falling behind in STEM education, the next generation of job candidates will be unprepared and unqualified to take advantage of these career opportunities. In response to a pressing need to educate tomorrow’s workforce, Danica McKellar, well-known for her roles on "The Wonder Years” and "The West Wing” and now also a mathematician and best-selling author, is teaming with DeVry University for National HerWorld month in November to inspire young women across the country to explore careers in STEM related fields.

Actress and best-selling author Danica McKellar hosts national HerWorld month with DeVry University to inspire young women across the country to explore careers in STEM related fields. (Photo: Business Wire)

Now in its 13th year, DeVry University’s HerWorld program provides an opportunity for high school girls to explore fast-growing careers of the 21st century in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). National HerWorld month is an initiative hosted by DeVry University educators that will introduce young girls to women who have excelled in their fields.

"Our society still promotes outdated, negative stereotypes that lead girls from a young age to believe that math is too hard and that it’s only for boys. For several years, it’s been my mission to reverse these damaging messages by giving girls the tools they need to improve their math skills and self-esteem, and showing them that intelligence is key to becoming a fabulous young woman someday.” said McKellar. "I’m thrilled to be partnering with DeVry University’s HerWorld program to further this mission. During National HerWorld month, we’ll be introducing high school girls to powerful female role models and opening the door to exciting STEM career opportunities that they may never have imagined possible. We’ll show them: ‘You can do this!’ "

Danica will host a national HerWorld event in New York City on November 19 where 350 high school girls will participate in education and confidence building workshops and work together to build miniature robots. Nearly 7,200 high school girls from hundreds of high schools will participate across the country at nearly 50 local HerWorld events where in addition to seminars and a robotics workshop, they will listen to local female leaders discuss their career journey and gain inspiration towards their future endeavors. DeVry University’s corporate partners including HP, Cisco and Microsoft will also take part to support the program’s powerful message. Every participating HerWorld high school across the country will receive a copy of Danica’s best-selling book, Hot X: Algebra Exposed, for their library.

"There is a pressing need to break down gender barriers in STEM industries, especially given information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that women make up nearly half of the American workforce, but hold only 14 percent of engineering positions and 25 percent of mathematics positions²,” said David J. Pauldine, president of DeVry University. "We are thrilled to be working with Danica in an effort to help young women realize their full potential. National HerWorld Month is part of DeVry University’s commitment to moving STEM education forward and helping young women realize that no career dream is out of reach.”

Across the country, HerWorld high school participants will work in teams as part of a nationwide contest to invent a revolutionary way to use an existing product. The best products from each event will be judged and in April 2011, Danica will teach a math class at the grand prize winning high school.

About DeVry University

Founded in 1931, DeVry University is one of the largest, private sector universities in North America, with more than 85,000 students enrolled in the United States and Canada. The university’s mission is to foster student learning through high-quality, career-oriented education integrating technology, business, science and the arts. With more than 90 locations, DeVry University delivers practitioner-oriented undergraduate and graduate degree programs onsite and online that meet the needs of a diverse and geographically dispersed student population. Home to five colleges of study, including Business & Management, Engineering & Information Sciences, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Media Arts & Technology, DeVry University’s outstanding faculty members, work in the fields that they teach, providing students with real-world experiences that prepare them for high-growth careers.

DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. DeVry University, a part of DeVry Inc. (NYSE: DV), is based in Downers Grove, Ill. For more information about DeVry University, find us on Twitter @DeVryUniv or visit www.devry.edu. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York.

HerWorld is a registered trademark of DeVry Educational Development Corporation. ©2010 DeVry Educational Development Corporation. All rights reserved. Any other trademarks used herein are owned by their respective owners.

¹ Anthony P. Carneval, Nicole Smith and Jeff Strohl, "Help Wanted. Projection of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2010,” Center on Education and the Workforce, (2010): 52, http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/FullReport.pdf.

² "Women in the Labor Force: A Databook. December 2008,” (2008): US Bureau of Labor Statistics, (2008): 29, http://www.bls.gov/cps/wlf-databook-2008.pdf.

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