More History - DOME Foundation

Our history started in 2007 when the DOME (Diversity and Outreach in Math and Engineering) Foundation, Inc (501) (c) (3) non-profit corporation was established in Massachusetts by the two co-founders: Larisa K. Schelkin and Norean Sharpe.

Our Vision:

Current projections indicate that STEM fields today fall short of adequately meeting the needs of a global and competitive workforce tomorrow. The DOME Foundation will develop outreach programs targeted to underrepresented youth and educators to support a future where young people understand their potential; are offered ways to develop and explore their interests; and are given the means to pursue meaningful opportunities in STEM-related fields. DOME envisions targeting youth through collaborative programs with professional societies, business, higher educational institutions, and the K-12 educational system.

Our Beliefs:

The DOME Foundation believes that underrepresented youth must be encouraged and supported to develop interests and academic skills in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields to meet the needs of a global and competitive workforce.
The DOME Foundation believes that furthering educational opportunities for students, including mentorship, internships, networking, project-based learning, and exploration and exposure to real-world applications in the STEM fields will motivate students and educators to increase the STEM pipeline.
The DOME Foundation believes that enhancing the dialog and formation of partnerships among corporations, primary and secondary schools, professional societies and a diverse group of academic institutions to provide networking opportunities on STEM issues will enrich STEM educational opportunities.

Broad Goals:

To enhance the exposure, awareness and understanding of the STEM fields and associated career paths for students from underrepresented populations
To support the STEM pipeline for students from underrepresented populations by facilitating funding sources and mentoring programs.
To promote the importance and exposure to STEM disciplines and careers by providing learning experiences/internships for students, teachers, and career counselors.
To enhance the dialog and form partnerships among corporations, primary and secondary schools, professional societies, and a diverse group of academic institutions to provide networking opportunities on STEM issues.

Goals and Strategies:

To enhance the exposure, awareness and understanding of the STEM fields and associated career paths for students from underrepresented populations

to sponsor student visits to companies
to develop a speakers bureau matching engineers and other STEM professionals with school interested inviting them
to assist students finding mentors among STEM professionals

To support the STEM pipeline for students from underrepresented populations by facilitating funding sources and mentoring programs.

To develop scholarships for first-generation college bound students by linking corporations with specific schools and organizations that reach this under-served population (e.g., Bottom-Line, Year-Up and NASA Space camp).
To link educators, entrepreneurs, and corporate employees with students at the K-12 level to allow them to explore applications of STEM disciplines through internships, workshops, seminars, and other mentoring opportunities.
To assist students and educators by connecting them to the best existing mentoring programs by facilitating informational & training sessions for students, educators.
Establish DOME Annual Student Award & facilitate the first Annual Ceremony

To promote the importance and exposure to STEM disciplines and careers by providing learning experiences/internships for teachers, and career counselors.

To sponsor workshops, internships and seminars for teachers and guidance/career counselors at corporations and academic institutions that will expose them to new technology, applications, programs, services, and career opportunities in STEM fields.
To assist educators by providing them with more information on best practices in existing STEM internship opportunities for educators
To form partnerships with professional societies that serve educators (e.g., ASA, INFROMS, MAA) and counselors (e.g., MASCA) to develop seminars and workshops in conjunction with their conferences and meetings.
To enable teachers and career counselors to earn PDPs for their participation in workshops sponsored by DOME

To enhance the dialog and form partnerships among corporations, primary and secondary schools, professional societies, and a diverse group of academic institutions to provide networking opportunities on STEM issues.

To plan, sponsor, and host mini-conferences and symposia that bring together educators and corporate managers to develop partnerships.
To work with professional societies (e.g., SWE, NSBE, SHPE, ASA, MAA, and SIM) and academic institutions to develop workshops that would expose and educate students and teachers on the potential applications of the STEM fields.
To facilitate collaborative opportunities by co-sponsoring existing programs that link students with academic institutions and industry (e.g., Babson, CIMS, and SIM sponsored programs that already host urban youth for such programs).
To develop networking program & facilitating networking events for middle/high school students in collaboration with corporations, professional societies and academia.
Develop & implement a collaborative media campaign (based on the latest findings & recommendations from NSF and corporations)

Thank you to all our supporters!