Kara Branch, 34, is an award-winning chemical engineer and founder of Black Girls Do Engineer, a nonprofit dedicated to getting more Black and Brown girls into STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) through the power of access, representation, hands-on education, mentorship and scholarships.
Growing up in a single parent home with limited resources, Kara fought her way into high school honors programs, eventually earning a scholarship to attend HBCU Prairie View A&M University. An engineering major, Kara found that she was one of only a handful of women in her program, and in many of her classes, she was the only Black woman in the room. Throughout her subsequent engineering career, she has seen this disturbing trend continue, often being the only Black woman in important rooms she steps into.
The statistics back up her experience. According to the National Science Foundation, “as of 2023 only 35% of people in the STEM workforce are women, 5% are women of color, and a miniscule 2.9% are Black women.” (new.nsf.gov)
Kara believes this comes down to a lack of representation and mentorship, lack of access to quality STEM programs, and financial constraints for families in underserved communities.
In 2019, she launched the 501c3 nonprofit, Black Girls Do Engineer, an application-based educational program for girls in K through college to learn about and participate in STEM programs led by successful working professionals in these fields who look like them.
Black Girls Do Engineer program is vitally important
Demand for professionals across Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is skyrocketing and it is expected to continue to soar, especially as A.I. expands. According to this 2023 CNBC article, “STEM jobs remain among the highest in-demand jobs overall with STEM-related jobs pay over $100,000, especially mathematics and computer positions.” The article also states that “STEM-related jobs are expected to increase by nearly 800,000 by 2031.”