CHICAGO, IL — Women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM careers, despite the growing demand for tech professionals. According to a recent DeVry University report, the gender gap in AI skills training and proficiency underscores a broader issue—women trail men in nearly every aspect of AI, from understanding its value to acquiring technical expertise.
Currently, women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce but hold only about 28% of computer and mathematical occupations. Overall, they represent just 35% of STEM employees nationwide. With tech-driven career opportunities projected to outpace most industries over the next decade, STEM educators are focused on closing the gap by reaching girls early—some as young as middle school.
DeVry University, which has been preparing students for tech careers for over 90 years, is part of a nationwide push to inspire more women to pursue STEM. A key initiative, “HerWorld,” introduces 5th–8th grade girls to careers in technology through hands-on experiences and mentorship from female STEM professionals.
STEM advocates Dr. La’Quata Sumter, an educator and children’s author who leads drone and engineering camps nationwide, and Scarlett Howery, vice president of Public Workforce Solutions at DeVry University, are leading the conversation on empowering women in tech. Their discussion highlights key topics such as the barriers women face in STEM, emerging career opportunities in the next decade, and how programs like “HerWorld” aim to spark young girls’ interest in tech.
For those looking to support or participate in the movement, these leaders offer insight into the steps needed to foster the next generation of female tech professionals—one drone at a time.