Dr. DeLean Tolbert Smith, Assistant Professor in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, will use an Invention Process to frame a discussion about community partnerships, families, research, and innovation. In this 60 minute presentation, Dr. Smith will share her research methodology and insights from studying families as cultural assets in support of students on their STEM pathways. She will be joined by:

• Lucie Howell, Chief Learning Officer at The Henry Ford
• Michelle Reaves, Executive Director at the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program

Lucie and Michelle will discuss their partnerships with Dr. Smith and the impact of her research on their programs. Participants can expect to reflect on their own experiences and opportunities to leverage relationships to bring about positive change in their own realms of influence.