Getting African-Americans and Hispanics into the STEM talent pipeline will take a multi-tiered educational and career development effort. It also requires cultural changes in the STEM industries to move towards real inclusiveness.
- By Debra Jenkins

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines are getting a lot of attention because the need for college graduates is growing as the knowledge economy expands its reach across industries. Currently, the statistics indicate the people who are being hired are mostly whites and Asians. Changing the trend to fill the talent pipeline requires more than just hiring African-Americans and Hispanics because the long-term challenges of the industry are embedded in a non-inclusive culture and an educational system that does not offer equal learning and career preparation opportunities. STEM companies need to change their recruitment and retention strategies and invest in K-12 programs that inspir...