Girls in Engineering Academy

The Girls in Engineering Academy (GEA), launched by The Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD), is getting young girls excited about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Started in 2017 by ESD's executive director, Robert Magee, and Dr. Gerald Thompkins, the former Associate Dean of Engineering at Wayne State University, GEA was created to tackle the low number of women and minorities in engineering.

GEA's main goal is to boost interest in STEM among girls in Michigan, especially in the Detroit area. The program aims to give students the skills they need to succeed, no matter where life takes them.

Currently, GEA has over 150 middle and high school students, mostly minority girls from Detroit and nearby areas. The academy already has 17 high school graduates from its first class, all of whom are pursuing STEM degrees in college.

Thanks to GEA’s success, ESD is launching a new program—the Boys in Engineering Academy (BEA). Starting this summer at the University of Michigan, BEA will focus on getting middle school boys from Detroit excited about STEM, with a special focus on engineering.

GEA hires college students, mostly women majoring in STEM fields, to teach and mentor girls from 6th to 12th grade. The academy makes learning fun and immersive, showing students that STEM can be both exciting and impactful.

A highlight for GEA students is their annual trip to Central Michigan University (CMU). Last summer's visit was a hit, with many graduates calling it one of their favorite experiences. This year, from July 8 to August 2, 2024, 11th-grade students will return to CMU and the CMU Biological Station. They’ll take courses in ecology, sociology, engineering, and astronomy, and spend a hands-on week at the Biological Station testing their projects and learning about ecology.

ESD and GEA are thrilled to continue working with CMU, seeing it as a great way to introduce students to the university's engineering programs and the wide range of opportunities available there. The academy is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of STEM professionals and closing the minority gap in engineering.

With these programs, ESD is empowering young people in Detroit and making a big impact on the future of STEM in Michigan.