April 22, 2022

The Mobility21 UTC hosted the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Yassmin Gramian and other leaders in the industry for PennDOT’s ‘Moving Forward with STEM’ panel discussion.

Mobility21 Executive Director, Stan Caldwell, opened the event welcoming the panelists and attendees on behalf of Carnegie Mellon University.  He highlighted the university’s history in STEM and the UTC’s focus on workforce development.

Hajra Shahab, the 2020 – 2022 Traffic21 Women in Transportation Fellow then introduced the panel and the moderator for the event:

• • Matt Blackburn, Senior Manager, Government Relations, Aurora;
  • Rachel Burcin, Manager of Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute Global Programs;
  • Robert Koch, Chair for Community College of Allegheny County Skilled Trades Department and Automotive Ford ASSET program professor;
  • Audrey Russo, CEO Pittsburgh Technology Council
  •  PennDOT District 11 Executive Director Cheryl Moon-Sirianni (moderator)

 

 

 

 

Panelists then shared their views on the importance of STEM, cultivating the next generation of transportation industry workers, and Pittsburgh’s leading role in the transportation revolution (through higher education institutions and transportation-related technology companies).

Additionally, the panel discussed ways to increase diversity and equity in STEM and the transportation workforce.

Over 100 national industry leaders from departments of transportation, intermediate units, school districts, higher education institutions, transportation providers, community organizations, industry as well as students registered for the event and participated by submitting questions for the panel.

You can view the video of the discussion here.