AMERICAN INDIAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SOCIETY

In order to be a strong nation, we have to have a skilled workforce – specifically a skilled STEM workforce. While our work is important to Indian Country, it is equally important to the Nation as a whole. The U.S. has not been producing enough STEM talent and as a result, we are losing our competitive edge. This is why you see so much focus on STEM education these days – we all recognize we are woefully behind other countries in STEM education and our STEM workforce. Indian Country has enormous potential for helping fill this gap but it has been largely untapped and unsupported in (STEM) workforce development. Supporting STEM education beginning in K-12 schools and providing a clear pathway to college in both urban and reservation settings is critical.

In 2019, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), a 501(c)(3) public charity, embarked on a planning process to guide the organization in building its capacity and programming over the next four years. Following a successful leadership transition six years ago followed by significant growth and evolution of the work of the organization both in size and scope, the time was right to take stock of AISES and determine a next lifecycle stage course of action in service of its mission. This comprehensive process - conducted in partnership with outside consultants, interSector Partners, L3C - allowed for both internal reflection and outside perspectives to leverage the organization's history and assets toward a sustainable future.

AISES' strengths, competencies and assets are many and were identified through a strategic plan process by consultants, key external stakeholders, and board and staff members. These strengths are leveraged by AISES to capitalize on its impressive 40-year track record and build toward the future. The strength areas are: committed, motivated and professional staff; supportive, responsive and diverse board of directors; variety and quality of programs; quality events, especially the national conference; communications with members via publications, outreach and websites; strong, active membership, long-term committed partners, and a reputation for achieving the AISES mission.

AISES administers many programs, services, and events for pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate students designed to increase their access to college and support their success in preparation for careers in STEM fields. Indigenous college students need professional mentorship and peer support in addition to scholarship support. Students are most successful when they have a network of other Indigenous students, as well as professionals who can provide ongoing support while they are pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies. AISES provides exactly this critically needed support through its programming.

AISES is dedicated to supporting early, mid, and executive professionals in STEM fields through professional development, career opportunities, networking, and research support to mentors who support professionals in STEM. AISES' support does not end once a student graduates from college and enters a STEM career, but rather provides ongoing career development programming to help Indigenous STEM professionals grow and succeed in their chose field. Additionally, AISES offers a multitude of opportunities for professionals to "give back" through mentoring and supporting Indigenous STEM students.

AISES has awarded over $12 million in academic scholarships to Indigenous STEM students while also providing internships, workforce development and career resources, national and regional conferences, science fairs, leadership development, and other STEM-focused programming.

AISES is in the process of reorganizing the way that it communicates about its programs, research/data efforts, and advocacy/policy work to simplify its messaging and the understanding of its work by external audiences. Three key focus areas are student success, career support, and workforce development.

AISES has a strong governance structure that includes a diverse board of directors and a set of advisory councils that help directors stay in touch with various areas of work pertinent to the AISES mission. Councils include academic advisory council, corporate advisory council, government relations council, professional development council, Canadian Indigenous advisory council, Tribal Nations advisory council, Council of Elders, and Winds of Change advisory council. Also, the board has various committees that support AISES' work. Board committees include education, finance, governance, membership, nominations, and professional development. The structure offers a comprehensive approach to providing opportunities for multiple stakeholder voices to be involved in the leadership structure of AISES.