EPISODE 29
Building STEM Pathways Part 1: Connecting Youth, Education, and Industry
In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Michael Donovan sits down with Dale Keshishian, founder and CEO of HealthWorks Academies, and David Garbe, director of the Philadelphia Education Fund, to unpack the challenges, and opportunities, of building stronger STEM pathways for young people.
From early exposure and hands-on learning to representation, mentorship, and community engagement, this conversation explores what it takes to keep students engaged and help them see a future in STEM. The episode also dives into the importance of collaboration across education and industry, the need to rethink traditional career pathways, and how we can better prepare both students and educators for a rapidly evolving workforce.
HealthWorks Academies is a nonprofit organization that connects high school STEM education to careers in healthcare and life sciences by providing students with career exposure, mentorship, and real-world learning experiences to build a strong and diverse workforce pipeline. Led by HealthWorks Academies, Project Stone Soup: Collaboration Over Competition is a cross-sector workforce infrastructure initiative designed to strengthen Pennsylvania’s health science talent pipeline by aligning employers, educational institutions, workforce systems, and community partners around a shared strategy for equitable access to careers and long-term economic mobility.
The Philadelphia Education Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to improving college and career outcomes for students by offering programs that support academic achievement, expand access to STEM opportunities, and prepare students for success in both higher education and the workforce. The McKinney Center for STEM Education is a Philadelphia Education Fund initiative that supports STEM learning through teacher training, curriculum resources, and partnerships with local schools.
Links to specific studies from the episode can be found here:
Stem Identity in African American Middle School Students: A Phenomenological Study
How do middle school girls of color develop STEM identities?
Recent Episodes
Episode Details
Host
Michael Donovan
Guest(s)
Dale Keshishian, David Garbe
Topic Area(s)
Duration
47:17
Date
05/13/2026
Share
EPISODE 29
Building STEM Pathways Part 1: Connecting Youth, Education, and Industry
In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Michael Donovan sits down with Dale Keshishian, founder and CEO of HealthWorks Academies, and David Garbe, director of the Philadelphia Education Fund, to unpack the challenges, and opportunities, of building stronger STEM pathways for young people.
From early exposure and hands-on learning to representation, mentorship, and community engagement, this conversation explores what it takes to keep students engaged and help them see a future in STEM. The episode also dives into the importance of collaboration across education and industry, the need to rethink traditional career pathways, and how we can better prepare both students and educators for a rapidly evolving workforce.
HealthWorks Academies is a nonprofit organization that connects high school STEM education to careers in healthcare and life sciences by providing students with career exposure, mentorship, and real-world learning experiences to build a strong and diverse workforce pipeline. Led by HealthWorks Academies, Project Stone Soup: Collaboration Over Competition is a cross-sector workforce infrastructure initiative designed to strengthen Pennsylvania’s health science talent pipeline by aligning employers, educational institutions, workforce systems, and community partners around a shared strategy for equitable access to careers and long-term economic mobility.
The Philadelphia Education Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to improving college and career outcomes for students by offering programs that support academic achievement, expand access to STEM opportunities, and prepare students for success in both higher education and the workforce. The McKinney Center for STEM Education is a Philadelphia Education Fund initiative that supports STEM learning through teacher training, curriculum resources, and partnerships with local schools.
Links to specific studies from the episode can be found here:
Stem Identity in African American Middle School Students: A Phenomenological Study
How do middle school girls of color develop STEM identities?
Episode Details
Host
Michael Donovan
Guest(s)
Dale Keshishian, David Garbe
Topic Area(s)
Duration
47:17
Date
05/13/2026
Share
Recent Episodes