Mary Trent to serve as northwest regional STEM manager

Mary Trent
The network team for Iowa STEM welcomes new member Mary Trent, northwest regional STEM manager out of Iowa Lakes Community College.

Starting in mid-March, Mary Trent will serve as the northwest regional STEM manager headquartered at Iowa Lakes Community College (ILCC). Trent personifies the excellence sought by a dedicated search committee headed up by ILCC Vice President of Administration Scott Stokes with contributors, Sharon Rosenboom, a STEM Council member, John Bedward, a Northwest Regional STEM Advisory Board member, and Executive Director Dr. Jeff Weld.

Trent, alongside her devoted counterparts, will work as the “boots on the ground” for Northwest Iowa to execute the priorities of the STEM Council and continue to strengthen relationships with PreK-12 schools, business and industry partners, nonprofit organizations, higher education and other community leaders. Some of her duties will include promoting the STEM Scale-Up Program; convening the Northwest Regional STEM Advisory Board; conducting local, statewide and, even national, presentations on Iowa STEM; facilitating working groups; planning local family STEM festivals and more.

Trent’s qualifications for the post are numerous as she has led her school system to a regional reputation for STEM excellence, while also serving a statewide role in advancing STEM education.

“My experience with professional development and partnership with AEA PD Online will definitely help the STEM movement in Iowa in providing quality STEM professional development throughout the state,” Trent said. “Also, my experience as a technology integration specialist and STEM coordinator at our school will provide me a unique insight into STEM in schools.”

Trent has been involved in numerous programs of the STEM Council as well, serving as a reviewer for STEM BEST® proposals and contributor to the STEM Council’s Active Learning Community Partners, Professional Development and Communications working groups. ​

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a minor in Educational Computing from Iowa State University, Trent devoted 22 years to the youth of Kuemper Catholic School in Carroll as a first grade teacher and technology integration specialist. During that time, she also taught many courses through Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA) and AEA PD Online. Trent later earned her master’s degree in Professional Education from Morningside College in Sioux City.

“I am most excited to spread the STEM initiative to all of Northwest Iowa,” Trent said. “​I hope to make the Northwest a beacon for great STEM in Iowa!”

For more information on Iowa STEM regions and their respective regional STEM managers, please visit www.IowaSTEM.gov/regions, and please help us give Mary a warm welcome to our team!

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