In this episode of Empowering Engineering Educators, host Joe Hanson sits down with Nefertiti Strickland, a cyber technology strategist, military officer, and adjunct professor, to explore how teamwork and collaboration are essential to success in STEM, engineering, and education.

With a career spanning military service, cybersecurity, business innovation, and education, Nefertiti has dedicated her work to bridging communities, fostering leadership, and advancing STEAM education. From her role as a K-12 Cybersecurity Career Ambassador with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to leading Teachers & Designed to Disrupt, she is reshaping how educators and students approach emerging technologies and teamwork.

Key Topics Covered:

🔹 How military leadership principles translate to teamwork in STEM and education

🔹 The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the future of engineering

🔹 How educators can integrate project-based learning and teamwork into their classrooms

🔹 Building diverse and inclusive teams for innovation and problem-solving

🔹 The role of AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain in shaping tomorrow’s engineers

Nefertiti’s unique perspective as a leader, educator, and innovator highlights how teamwork is not just a skill but a core pillar of success in engineering and education. She shares actionable strategies for educators to build collaborative learning environments, foster real-world problem-solving skills, and prepare students for the rapidly evolving landscape of STEM careers.

Brought to You by Siemens

This episode is presented by Siemens, your partner in transforming high school engineering education. Explore Siemens’ project-based curriculum, advanced engineering software, classroom management tools, and professional development resources—designed to empower the next generation of innovators.

📢 Discover tools to make your high school engineering classroom more effective:sw.siemens.com/ple

🎧 Tune in now to learn how teamwork can drive success in STEM education and beyond!