Transforming Global Communities Through STEM Education: A Conversation with Shirley Posey

Join the Penn Libraries and the Environmental Innovations Initiative in welcoming Shirley Posey along with some of her student ambassadors to learn more about their STEM Ambassador Program. We'll hear what the program has meant to students, the communities they've interacted with, and their ambitions for the future.

***

“We have to prepare students for a world that doesn’t yet exist.”

That’s the philosophy that drives Shirley Posey’s work as a STEM educator and community leader.

As Director of STEM at Imhotep Institute Charter High School in Philadelphia, and Founder of Future Shift, Posey combines STEM, culture, and emerging tech to give students the tools to solve real problems — locally and globally.

She’s built three STEM labs that serve more than 2,000 students, offering hands-on experience with clean water systems, hydroponics, and sustainable food production. Her students have even engineered water filters from recycled plastics, thus tackling real-world issues like water safety and food insecurity.

Through the STEM Ambassador Program she created, students learn advanced skills — like 3D printing, digital design, and environmental engineering — and apply them to tangible projects to improve communities. From Jackson, Mississippi to Ghana, Kenya, Sapelo Island, and neighborhoods across Philadelphia, they’re not just learning — they’re making an impact.

Posey also serves as Chair of the Education Committee for the Global Water Alliance, sits on the Board of the United Nations Association of Pennsylvania, and continues to push for equity, ethics, and justice in every aspect of STEM.

Her work has earned her recognition from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (Madam C.J. Walker Educator of the Year), a feature TEDx Talk, and the Philadelphia Eagles Tri-State STEM Educator of the Year Award.

For more information about this event, please contact Manuel de la Cruz Gutiérrez, Director of the Holman Biotech Commons, at dmanuel@pobox.upenn.edu.

About the Speaker

Shirley Elle Posey is an award-winning STEM educator and sustainability advocate whose academic journey spans top institutions and national fellowships. She holds a Master of Medical Science from Hampton University and a B.S. in Biology from Clark Atlanta University, with advanced certifications from IBM and Drexel University. A Scaling Up STEM Fellow  with the NSTA and Northrop Grumman, a global aerospace, defense and security company. She is a graduate of NASA’s CCRI STEM Educator Ambassador Program, Posey blends research, innovation, and equity in her work. Her research at Georgia Tech and Morehouse College laid the foundation for her interdisciplinary approach. Recognized nationally and internationally, Posey has received honors including the Madam C.J. Walker Educator of the Year, Philadelphia Eagles Teacher of the Year, Epic Educator at the Model Schools Conference, and a citation from Keta,Ghana for contributions in STEM. She has been featured by TEDx, the U.S. EPA, and the Global Water Alliance, and was recently showcased in the Philadelphia Science History Museum as one of the “Superheroes Saving the Planet.” She serves on the board for the Global Water Alliance and United Nations-PA. Her work in STEM education focuses on empowering young people to build sustainable communities—reaching from Ghana, Kenya, and Sapelo Island to neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.