Hygienic Lab’s Hochstedler wins STEM award
Beth Hochstedler, Director of Education, Training, and Outreach, has won the STEM Champion award at the 7th annual Iowa Women of Innovation ceremony. The award was presented by the Technology Association of Iowa on Nov. 11 in Altoona. The Women of Innovation awards recognize and celebrate Iowa’s extraordinary female leaders in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. “This award is a direct reflection of the amazing staff that I work with and the many wonderful STEM partners we have, which continue to inspire me and make all our STEM efforts possible,” said Hochstedler, who has been with the State Hygienic Lab for 25 years.
According to the Technology Association of Iowa’s website, the STEM Champion award is given to a woman who “promote[s] innovative programs to support and promote workforce development in her employment/partnership with schools, industries/companies, science agencies and outreach/extramural programs related to STEM workforce development in Iowa.”
Hochstedler supports and promotes workforce development in STEM programs by managing educational STEM activities at the Hygienic Laboratory, including a mentorship program, an internship program and fellowships, as well as the environmental and public health training program, strategic communications and outreach. In recognition of her contributions to STEM, Governor Branstad appointed Hochstedler to the Governor’s STEM Advisory council.
Hochstedler said every spark she ignites in the future workforce motivates her to do more and that she’s very passionate about the work she does in STEM education.
Eva J. Perlman, Senior Director of Professional Development for the Association of Public Health Laboratories, described Hochstedler as “a real life public health action hero who brings the excitement and challenge of public health laboratory science careers to life for young students.”
