Building Sustainable Pathways & Inclusivity in STEM throughout Sussex County, Delaware
Our nation continues to face resource shortages in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers which threatens America’s growth and competitiveness.
We're a nonprofit organization committed to positioning Sussex County, Delaware among the national leaders in STEM advocacy and awareness.

Our STEM Initiative & Mission
A Letter from our Founder
Our nation continues to face resource shortages in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers which threatens America’s growth and competitiveness.
There are two contributing factors to this issue: 1) Skills Gap: US Census shows 9.3 million unemployed, but 4.7 million STEM jobs unfilled, and 2) reduction in STEM pipeline: Today, only 15% of undergraduates are STEM majors, not enough to meet our nation’s demand.
Delaware is no different and has been working diligently to address this problem with multiple programs to stimulate interest in STEM education and careers for all Delawareans. Most of these programs are based upstate and although open to Sussex County, the travel distance, as well as inconsistent communications of STEM-related events to Sussex county participants make it difficult for those residing and working here to participate.
There exists no formal dissemination of STEM related information from K-12 – higher education – STEM- related industry in Sussex County. Many schools, parents and students are not aware of STEM-related fields of study available to students in Sussex County higher education institutions. Furthermore, many students enrolled in Sussex county institutions of higher education institutions are not aware of the many STEM-related career opportunities available to them in this county.
Forging a new path forward
As a result of these challenges, I am creating an alliance of all STEM Stakeholders including educators, consumers (industry, government, organizations, etc.), legislators, and families in Sussex County to focus on our region’s specific needs in addressing the gap and pipeline issues. This alliance will create, foster, support and promote programs that:
- assist in the development or adoption of stronger and more standardized STEM curricula
- increase student awareness of, interest in and pursuit of STEM education/careers
- encourage curricular alignment among educational organizations
- develop awareness of opportunities available to highly qualified STEM educators to attract them to Sussex County
- graduate high performing students with expertise
- create strong pathways to the STEM-related workforce in fulfillment of the employment needs in Sussex County.
I hope that you will help support these initiatives by joining Sussex County STEM Alliance so that we can help position Sussex County, Delaware be among the national leaders in STEM advocacy and awareness.

Michael J. Maksymow, Jr., MBA, CHCIO, FCHIME, FHIMSS
Founder of Sussex County STEM Alliance

Our Programs
Get Involved with our programs & Community Outreach
Sussex County K-5 STEM Fair

Virtual STEM Socials
Our Virtual STEM Socials are part of our community outreach initiatives aimed at connecting stakeholders throughout Sussex County, Delaware around engaging topics of STEM inclusivity that spark meaningful conversations between parents, community leaders, government, educators, and students.

Engineering Your Tomorrow
This event, sponsored by DuPont, Girls, Inc and the Girls Scouts, has been going on in New Castle for 29 years. The Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education, Mountaire Farms, Delaware Technical and Community College along with the Sussex County STEM Alliance helped to bring the first EYT event to Sussex County in April 2019.
The event is for girls in grades 6th-8th and their parents. When the girls arrive, they are split into 8 groups. Each group is paired with a guide who is usually in a STEM career/ industry. The girls participate in hands-on engineering and science activities throughout the day. The parents attend a panel discussion with some of Delaware’s top engineers and STEM-related career people. Discussions are held on the importance of supporting their girls’ interests toward STEM and how to select the correct coursework.












Our Leadership Team
Meet our Board of Directors
Jeffrey Berger
Board Chairman
Chief Information Officer
Customers Bank
Bryan Pettyjohn
Vice president government relations
State Senator 19th District & Senate Minority Whip at the State of Delaware
Dr. Jamila Riser
Vice president Education & Education Committee Chair
Executive Director
Delaware Mathematics Coalition
Jack Berberian
Vice president Industry
Cofounder
SecureNetMD
Keri Boyer
Board Member & Communication Committee Chair
Founder, BolsterWP
Cari Miller
Board Member
Founder
The Great STEMporium
Lea Rosell, MLIS
Board Member
Library Director
Lewes Public Library
Julie Berberian, CPA
Board Member & Treasurer
Principal Owner
Juliet N. Berberian CPA Firm