Upcoming event spotlights expanding region's workforce potential through STEM-based education, collaboration

Friday, Aug. 19, 2016

OLATHE — Kansas State University Olathe is bringing together industry and community leaders, employers, employees, educators and students in greater Kansas City to discuss fulfilling the region's demand for professionals in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — fields.

"Expanding Greater Kansas City's Potential: An Introduction to the Professional Science Master's Degree" is from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, at the K-State Olathe campus. Attendees will hear from a panel of industry leaders about the increasing demand for highly quality STEM professionals in greater Kansas City and how K-State Olathe is responding to this challenge with the Professional Science Master in Applied Science and Technology degree. The degree is designed to help meet the region's workforce demand while giving workers the professional skills and hands-on experience needed to advance in their careers.

Discussing how to create a STEM-based workforce that drives economic growth are Robert Casillas, vice president of global health and security at MRI Global; Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council; Kiriko Komura, administrative director of the Professional Science Master's National Office; Bob Regnier, president of Bank of Blue Valley; and Julie Vosilus, state liaison of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Greg Musil, partner at Douthit Frets Rouse Gentile and Rhodes LLC, will moderate the panel.

"We're excited to host so many influential thought leaders from the community and look forward to their insight on expanding the region's workforce potential," said Janice Barrow, associate dean and associate professor in the School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies at K-State Olathe. "Increasing the number of highly skilled, well-educated STEM professionals in greater Kansas City's workforce is the single biggest uniting issue for the region's business, civic and community leaders. K-State Olathe is prepared to offer a solution with the Professional Science Master in Applied Science and Technology degree."

The event is a larger, public follow-up to a July roundtable in which 28 industry and human resources leaders representing Kansas City's bioscience, animal health and food production sectors discussed the skills and training needed in the region's workforce to grow greater Kansas City and keep it competitive.

Information about scholarships, enrollment requirements, customized coursework and other academic programs at K-State Olathe will be available at the event. Additionally, prospective graduate students considering a K-State Olathe program will receive a graduate school application fee waiver.

Registration and more information are available at olathe.k-state.edu/potential.