About the Network
The Empire State STEM Learning Network is a statewide collaborative of educators, business & industry partners, and government leaders in New York working to expand access to high-quality STEM teaching, increase the number of students in STEM disciplines, and communicate and advocate for STEM policies, programs, platforms and partnerships. Their main focus is preparing all students for college and career success.


The Hubs
The Network is made up of 10 regional hubs that are aligned with New York’s Regional Economic Development Councils and each includes SUNY 2 and 4-year campuses with K-12, business, and community organizations.
Capital Region
Mission
Facilitating communication and collaboration among a diverse spectrum of the region’s education and business leaders and stakeholders in support of their efforts to advance and implement sustainable, scalable STEM education and prepare all students for educational and career success.
Leadership
- Joseph Dragone, Superintendent of Schools,
Ballston Spa Central School District - Gwendolyn Bluemich, U.S. Government Affairs, Education & Workforce Development
GLOBALFOUNDRIES
Central NY
Mission
The CNY STEM Hub is focused on impacting students in the classroom by implementing new teaching strategies in multi-disciplinary/inquiry-based methodologies with real world applications.
Leadership
- Donna DeSiato, Superintendent of Schools,
East Syracuse Minoa Central School District - Joseph Vargo, Executive Director, Partners for Education and Business,
MACNY
Eastern Southern Tier
Mission
Cultivating the resources necessary to keep young people engaged in STEM.
Leadership
- Melinda Russell, Community Outreach Specialist,
Broome Tioga BOCES - Ron Crawford, Senior Manager, Engineering Leadership Development,
Lockheed Martin
Finger Lakes
Mission
The Finger Lakes STEM Hub is a catalyst for collaboration among business, education, community organizations, government entities and passionate individuals leveraging diverse resources together to advance the interdisciplinary teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines for sustained economic vitality in our nine- county Finger Lakes Region.
Leadership
- Joseph Marinelli, Director,
Finger Lakes STEM Hub
Greater Southern Tier
Mission
Creating a regional pipeline resulting in the development of a workforce rich in math-science-technology and 21st century skills.
Leadership
- Mark Vaughn, Technical Talent Pipelining Manager; Lead, Technology Community Office of STEM,
CORNING
Long Island
Mission
The LI STEM Hub is dedicated to developing an integrated, effective, and cohesive regional system that will increase the number of students interested in and prepared for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers on Long Island. Through partnerships between industry, academia and informal education providers, we will promote workforce readiness and academic relevance that supports the economic growth and vitality of the region.
Leadership
- Cheryl Davidson, Director, Workforce Readiness, Department of Talent, Corporate Human Resources,
Northwell Health and co-steward,
Long Island STEM hub - Ken White, Manager, Office of Educational Programs,
Brookhaven National Laboratory and co-steward,
Long Island STEM hub
Mid-Hudson Valley
Mission
A collaborative of educators, business and community partners working to improve STEM education P-20 through three main objectives: professional learning, exciting and engaging students, and advocacy and communication
Leadership
- Sheila Appel,
US Regional Director, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs,
IBM
Mohawk Valley
Mission
Advancing STEM education through innovative teaching and collaboration to prepare all students for success in the 21st century.
Leadership
- Howard Mettelman, District Superintendent,
Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES
North Country
Mission
The North Country Stem Learning Network fosters collaboration and innovation among all community resources to empower diverse learners with 21st century skills for educational and career success.
Leadership
- Mary Margaret Small, Director, Educational Partnerships,
Clarkson University
Western NY
Mission
The WNY STEM Hub of the Empire State STEM Learning Network facilitates collaboration among business, education, community organizations, arts and cultural organizations, and government entities to advance the interdisciplinary teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics in support of sustained economic and intellectual vitality in our five-county region.
Leadership
- Michelle Kavanaugh, President,
WNY STEM - Joseph Zawicki, Chair, Board of Directors,
WNY STEM Hub

Network Priorities:
Partners
The Empire State STEM Learning Network was launched with a generous investment from the Battelle Institute and is a proud member of the STEMx national network. For more information on the network, call the Office of SUNY’s Senior Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Education Pipeline at (518) 320-1276.