System Upgrade: Rewriting the Code for Who Thrives in STEM — Meet Lee Ann Kline
In honor of STEM Month, we are proud to feature Lee Ann Kline. Lee Ann Kline is President and Founder of STEM Advantage, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, based in Southern California.
Tell us about your journey.
I received my B.S in Mathematics and Computer Science from Juniata College and my MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. As a Mathematics and Computer Science major, I was keenly aware of the lack of women in my field and the need for role models. I began my career as a programmer at IBM. As my career progressed and I became a consultant at EY, I observed firsthand the lack of gender and racial diversity in the technology organizations I served.
See something. Do something. Inspired to create change, in 2012 I leveraged my network of business, technology, and talent leaders to create STEM Advantage as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In 2020, I left EY to focus full-time on STEM Advantage as President & Founder.
STEM Advantage mentors, prepares, and inspires women and underserved communities, primarily first-generation college students from low-income families, for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math – or STEM. We “level the playing field” by empowering talented students with access to networks, employment, and economic mobility often limited to students attending elite universities, while providing a vetted pipeline of diverse talent to businesses to fill their workforce needs.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
When I lived in Connecticut, I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County and served on the Board of Directors. I loved Habitat and the population we served. I wanted to do something similar leveraging my background and experience to help primarily first-generation college students from low-income families majoring in a STEM field.
I believe talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. I was a technology consultant for many years and observed that most of the companies I served recruited from elite universities only.
When I researched education non-profits, I found most were focused on kindergarten through 12th grade students and college access. Programs for college success primarily supported students attending elite universities, which represent a tiny share of all college students. When I moved to Southern California, I learned about California State University (CSU), which is the largest and most ethnically diverse four-year public university system in the nation. When I met the Chair of Computer Science at Cal State Dominguez Hills (next to Compton), I knew we had a great partner to launch our program.
We created a holistic program for college students that includes career support, 1-to-1 mentorship, professional and career development, scholarships, and a supportive community fostering inclusion and belonging, peer support, and opportunities to build their network. Currently, we offer the STEM Advantage program to select students majoring in a STEM field at eight CSU campuses in Southern California. We have a non-discrimination policy and accept all genders and races or ethnicities.
What are the most valuable lessons you've learned about yourself through your life and career?
The value of believing in myself, having confidence in my abilities, and networking. In college, I had an outstanding female professor, who was also my mentor. When I started my career, however, I did not have a female role model or mentor for the first fifteen years. I persevered and did not want other young women and underserved students to have a similar experience.
When I started STEM Advantage, we thoughtfully and intentionally created a holistic program to provide students attending a public university with programming and career services often limited to students attending elite universities. Plus, we have an alumni network to foster community and provide continued corporate partner networking and career development opportunities.
Plus, it’s important to stay focused. While I’d like to help everyone, we stay focused on what our team knows best and continually strive to learn, strengthen, and expand our program to serve more students.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
STEM Advantage has been the honor of a lifetime. I’m immensely proud of our program and the students we serve. Our Scholars and alumni are talented, hardworking, and have grit. They have dreams and want to realize their potential to make their parents proud. As a first-generation college student, people opened doors for me. I wanted to pay it forward and do the same for others. Since we created our program in 2012, we have asked one key question on our application: “If selected as a STEM Advantage Scholar, how will you ‘Pay It Forward’?”
Scholars say our program is “life-changing” and empowering with a ripple effect:
- Preparing first-generation college students from low-income families for STEM jobs that pay more, on average, than non-STEM jobs.
- Scholars earn $75,000 average starting salary, a sustainable middle-class living wage (400% increase over average pre-program salary). They can save and invest, afford to live in California, buy a home, and build wealth.
- Alumni “pay it forward” as role models and mentors for siblings and younger students. If they can see it, they can be it.
- Children of alumni will grow up with an expectation (versus the exception) of going to college.
- This results in a generational impact and clear path to narrow the gender and racial wealth gaps creating financial security and stability for families and redefining the narrative.
Alumni are the best ambassadors for our program. They serve as mentors for new Scholars, make job referrals, serve on panels and our Board.
If you could go back and advise your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to strive to always be positive and surround myself with positive people who support each other. Unfortunately, I’ve worked with some toxic people over the years. As I gained experience and had both personal and career options, I learned to remove negative people from my network as life is short.
Plus, I would tell my younger self to always help others, which I did. I learned that from my father and think about him every day as I’m helping others.
How can GlobalMindED support your aspirations and help you achieve your goals?
There are many similarities between GlobalMindED and STEM Advantage, including our mission and the population we serve, especially first-generation college students from low-income families. Partnerships and collaboration are key to our success. Our collective work is essential to closing the equity gap. Together, we are making a difference that is changing lives. We are giving flowers to Carol and the GlobalMindED team and appreciate you giving me this platform to build our brand and share our story.
To learn about our program, please watch our sizzle reel.
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