STEM West welcomes Madi NeeSmith is a recent manga cum laude graduate from Furman University as an AmeriCorp VISTA. She received a B.A degree in Politics and International Affairs. Here at STEM West she will serve as our Communications VISTA. She, like STEM West, strives to help alleviate poverty.  Ergo, in this position she will focus on supporting and expanding high-quality STEM programs beyond the school day and establishing a communications system that links existing and potential STEM West ecosystem stakeholders. Madi’s past experience with working for Furman University’s Rinker Center for Study Away and International Education and her time as a research intern for a member of Scottish Parliament has provided her with experience in outreach and communications which she will apply at STEM West.

Great appreciation goes to Alfred Mayes and Burroughs Wellcome Fund for supporting STEM West and funding this position. Madi will begin her year-long appointment August 31st and will be housed at the NC Center of Engineering Technologies. “This will be a great opportunity for STEM West to have a partner in communications and data collection for the Asset Map! I am very pleased to soon be working with Madi in the fall,” stated Dr. Carol Moore, CEO and President of STEM West.