As a counselor educator interested in career development, I’m convinced that school, academic and career counselors play  a “gatekeeper” and “gateopener” role within course, program and college major choice making. Counselors and advisors intentionally and unconsciously influence the STEM information received by students.

Recent experience with NASA and their commitment to promote STEM career options led me to see how my “unconscious

incompetence” about STEM initiatives affects how I serve All students. Learning about the relationship among STEM initiatives, student access, and career readiness led to www.stemcareer.com as a brokering site to support STEM advocates.

Solely responsible for the currency and accuracy of all site information, I’m grateful for NASA’s interest in connecting counselors and STEM resources. All feedback and suggestions about STEM resources useful to Counselors, Students, Parents and Educators can be sent to Rich Feller, Professor of Counseling and Career Development at Colorado State University. feller@cahs.colostate.edu or 970-491-6879.

Building a group of colleagues able to advance the cause, and collaborate through project development and dissemination is a goal of this site. Linking to www.stemcareer.com is most appreciated. This site will remain free and will not sell products.

I am a freshman at Colorado State University working with Rich Feller, studying mechanical engineering. I have had two summers of experience working at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas after my junior and senior year in high school. Rich and I both believe that I am a model for STEM education, which is why I now help manage stemcareer.com. With over five years experience as a professional web developer, and being interested in STEM ever since I used a computer for the first time, I hope to someday work in a STEM field. Wherever I end up, I know it will be somewhere where I will be using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.