Industry and Career Awareness for MEMS: A Call to Action
ABSTRACT
The semiconductor industry faces numerous challenges when it comes to workforce development, but one of the most prevalent issues is its poor visibility to students, job seekers, and seasoned workers, particularly when compared to adjacent technology sectors. The MEMS niche of the industry is even less well known, even though MEMS technologies are ubiquitous and help power everyday lives. At this session, learn about the industry awareness resources available to SEMI members through the SEMI Foundation and how MEMS companies can participate in raising the visibility of their companies and the MEMS industry to job seekers through these tools and other workforce development strategies.
BIOGRAPHY
Michelle Williams-Vaden is the Deputy Director of the SEMI Foundation. Michelle is responsible for the organization’s scaling strategies, resource generation, storytelling and communications, and working toward diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry. Michelle has supported the launch and scaling of numerous national workforce development initiatives and has secured significant public and private funding for programs that welcome and support more women, veterans, people of color, and other underrepresented populations to the industry. She is an accomplished speaker and writer who has presented and written for national and global audiences. She also developed a first-of-their-kind diversity, equity, and inclusion roadmap and toolkit for the microelectronics industry. Previous to SEMI, Michelle spent 15 years at the helm of nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening local communities and positively impacting policy and program development on local, state-wide, and national levels.