Joseph Helble, dean of Thayer School of Engineering, has been named to Gov. Maggie Hassan’s newly created Task Force on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education. The 14-member task force brings together a diverse group of stakeholders from the education and business communities to make recommendations for modernizing STEM education in New Hampshire’s schools.

Helble, who has led Thayer School for nine years, says he would like the task force to consider engineering an essential part of K-12 education. “When most people speak about K-12 STEM education they generally mean science and math,” he says. “Science and math are foundational, but engineering introduces students to the excitement and challenge of solving real-life problems. I would like to see New Hampshire play a leading role in helping K-12 students prepare themselves for STEM-based careers by experiencing the opportunities that engineering presents and understanding why engineering is essential not just to the economy, but to their lives.”