Camsie McAdams

Name: Camsie McAdams
Place of Employment: DC Public Schools
Job Title: Director, STEM
Education: BS Political Science/General Engineering, University of Denver
MS, Education, Harvard Graduate School of Engineering

My STEM education journey began at the Colorado School of Mines, where I attended on a full-ride Engineering Days scholarship from 1993-1995. I graduated from the University of Denver Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude with a degree in political science and general engineering. I spent six years teaching middle school math and science in Oakland, CA and then received my Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2004.   I helped design, open and run a small public school in the South Bronx and then returned to the high school classroom to teach Algebra for four years in NYC public schools.   In 2009 I received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching for the state of New York and also received an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship at the National Science Foundation.   After 18 months at the NSF, I was selected to be the Director of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for the DC Public Schools.

What is the greatest challenge you’ve encountered during your career in STEM?
Supporting the retention of underrepresented groups in STEM is something I'm passionate about and with which I struggle. Encouraging girls or other groups to enter STEM fields is one struggle, but keeping that interest alive is another challenge.

What do you think is the most exciting thing about having a career in STEM?
The current emphasis on STEM in our country makes being in my current role incredibly exciting. The powerful integrative nature of STEM brings people together, brings concepts together and has the potential to reshape education in our country.

If you could give one piece of advice to a girl who is considering doing a Silver or Gold Award based on STEM or pursuing a career in STEM, what would that be?
Remember that STEM is all about changing the world, working together and finding creative solutions to solve real world problems!

Did you have STEM mentors?
Yes - my AP Calculus teacher, select professors in college and my supervisor at the NSF!

If you were a Girl Scout, what is your favorite Girl Scout memory?
I was a Girl Scout! My favorite memories were the bridge ceremony into girl scouts out of brownies and the cookie exchanges!