STEM Success Summit Announces Keynote Speakers Tatyana Ali and Iddris Sandu
Ali and Sandu discuss STEM education and career paths to inspire STEM students and young professionals from every community and background.
November 12, 2020 — The STEM Success Summit seeks to empower and elevate students and young professionals from typically underrepresented communities to become the next diverse generation of STEM leaders. At the free virtual event from November 19 to 21, 2020, attendees can hear from more than 18 expert and influential speakers, including keynotes from actress, Harvard University graduate, and activist Tatyana Ali and Iddris Sandu, technological design consultant and engineer to Google, Snapchat, Twitter and more. Registration is open now.
“We’re beyond thrilled to welcome Tatyana and Iddris to share their perspectives and experiences at the second annual STEM Success Summit. They are committed activists for supporting education to empower diversity for future STEM generations, and their direction and insight will be invaluable to the students and young professionals attending the STEM Success Summit, whether they’re deciding where to start their education or entering the workforce,” said Maynard Okereke, STEM Success Summit organizing team member and celebrity in his own right who recently appeared on the ABC TV show Shark Tank, and who also created the Hip Hop Science Show.
Tatyana Ali will speak on Friday, November 20, at 4 p.m. ET in a fireside chat, “Empowering Black & Brown Voices in Education,” with Okereke. Her activism over the past two decades has been driven by her passion for inspiring and supporting children from all communities to reach any academic and professional goal. Her focus and experience with youth education advocacy brings a unique perspective to the STEM Success Summit, where young people can determine how to translate their passions to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She was also named the “Young, Gifted, and Black” Woman of the Year by BET and the Black Girls Rock organization for her work with the Millennium Momentum Foundation, the United Negro College Fund, and other organizations.
Iddris Sandu is a testament to an early start in STEM: He taught himself computer programming at his local library when he was 10 years old. Choosing an unusual path, Sandu began his career right after high school, growing from an intern to a consultant for some of the biggest names in tech, including Google, Lockheed Martin, Facebook/Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and many more. He’s been closely invested in youth education and mentoring, having worked with politicians to drive support for STEM education and technology programs. He is also building a youth resource center in Ghana, his native country, with the goal of increasing technology literacy. Sandu will present the closing keynote on November 21 6:00 p.m. ET, discussing his unique journey in the tech industry.
Sponsored by Best Buy, bluesalve partners, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Fascinate Inc., and STEMedia, the STEM Success Summit presents a diverse lineup of experienced and influential speakers to join Ali and Sandu, including Jessica Santana, co-founder and CEO, America On Tech; Manny De La Cruz, olefins optimizer, ExxonMobil Chemical Company; Sherika Ekpo, global D&I lead, research and artificial intelligence, Google; Gerald A Moore Sr., founder, Mission Fulfilled 20230 and the Online Technology School for Black Boys; Daphney Chery, AAAS science and technology fellow hosted at the Department of Defense; Lorena Soriano, founder and CEO, every POINT ONE, PBC, and more.
Register now for the STEM Success Summit and browse the full speaker list here.
About the STEM Success Summit
THE STEM Success Summit is a free virtual conference designed to equip and empower young adults (ages 18–35), who are traditionally underrepresented, to launch successful and meaningful careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
For more information, visit http://bit.ly/STEMsummit2020