EMU Today

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University will welcome 350 middle school girls to its annual Digital Divas Conference on Friday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Student Center Ballroom, 900 Oakwood St. in Ypsilanti. The conference aims to deliver crucial knowledge about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers and opportunities for young women.

This year's conference will highlight Michigan's expanding semiconductor industry, a major contributor to the state’s economy. The conference seeks to promote awareness about this industry’s growth and potential for middle school girls. Digital Divas highlights a free session designed just for educators. This session will provide essential resources to encourage employment in the semiconductor industry and equip them with tools to offer educational opportunities for the future workforce.

“The semiconductor industry is an exciting, new field for Michigan that promises a higher-paying career and a specialized, technical workforce that will give our Michigan workforce a boost,” said Bia Hamed, program director of Digital Divas. “As it stands now, no one is graduating high school and college saying they want to work for the semiconductor industry, nor do our educators know enough to discuss semiconductor industry jobs and skills in k-12 classrooms, and Digital Divas is a solution for that.”

The Digital Divas Conference provides a unique opportunity for participants to learn about various parts of STEM through interactive workshops and networking opportunities. Participants will be able to interact with industry leaders, professors, and other students. 

Furthermore, these opportunities include interactive workshops covering various topics, including drones, coding, finance, chemistry, orthotics and prosthetics, nursing, first aid, manufacturing, electrical engineering, and more, giving students a comprehensive understanding of different STEM fields.

Participating schools:

• Salina Intermediate School-Dearborn 
• Tecumseh Middle School
• Stevenson-Wayne Westland Community Schools
• Bryant Middle School-Dearborn 
• MacArthur K-8 University Academy-Southfield 
• Boyd W. Arthurs Middle School-Trenton 
• Star International Academy-Canton
• Global Tech Academy-Ypsilanti 
• Ypsilanti Community Middle School

Founded in 2010 at EMU, Digital Divas is a program aimed at motivating young girls to explore STEM careers. Programs include conferences, summer camps, and mentorship opportunities, providing spaces for engaging with and encouraging young girls. Digital Divas offers a friendly environment by utilizing the resources of Eastern's campus. Digital Divas is committed to inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders through creativity and inclusivity.

“It is Digital Divas' mission to help promote this industry by training teachers and giving them free resources to help them understand and promote these great-paying jobs to their students,” said Hamed. 

For more information, visit the EMU Digital Divas website. For more information about the GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology, visit the website.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.