MORGANTOWN — Mylan Pharmaceuticals and WVU announced an initiative Monday that will see the global drug manufacturer invest $5 million over 10 years, aimed at increasing access to science, technology engineering and math (STEM) for West Virginia’s youth.
The announcement and the by-invitation lunch that followed were held at WVU’s Evansdale Crossing.
The partnership was dubbed STEM-CARE, the latter an acronym for Curious, Active, Resilient, Engaged. While details about programming are still to be determined, WVU’s Extension Services, — the state’s 55-county 4-H programs, in particular — will be the vehicle through which the funds are driven.
Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said Monday’s announcement was not an effort to purchase goodwill in the wake of some
500 layoffs announced for Mylan’s Morgantown operations late last month. Bresch said the layoffs were one of many “tough decisions” the company had to make in order to stay competitive globally.
“I know that many could say, as we think about today’s announcements, that somehow there was a linkage to these things,” Bresch said. “Here’s the only link: Our commitment to this state. It started in 1961, and it’s strong in 2018.”
Mylan representatives, including Andrea Miller, head of global research and development, said the groundwork that led to Monday’s announcement was put down when WVU and Mylan worked together in the aftermath of the deadly floods that ravaged part of the state in 2016. Miller went on to say that work began in earnest about a year ago.
“This is about our commitment to the state. A program like this, at this level and with the amount of detail they’ve worked out, doesn’t happen overnight,” she said.
According to a press release issued Monday morning, the initiative is intended to inspire West Virginia’s youth by demystifying STEM for all, not just those with dreams of working in a lab or being an engineer.
“We’d like to widen the lens being applied to STEM and make the study of science, technology, engineering and math as interesting and vivid as the imagination of West Virginia’s youth,” Bresch said.
WVU Provost Joyce McConnell said funds through the program will not be distributed to the counties but controlled centrally by WVU in an effort to provide a consistent product and experience for everyone.
McConnell went on to say there is still an important contingent to consult as the details start to take focus.
“One of the ways we’re going to begin this project is actually engaging children, our youth, as to what it is that will have meaning to them. We want to hear from them,” McConnell said. “We want to have a youth summit where we begin to understand better what it is that’s going to make a difference for them …”
Monday’s announcement was the second bit of good news recently for Monongalia County’s extension office. Earlier this month, the Monongalia County Commission approved lease agreements for a $3.5 million Monongalia County Extension Service and 4-H Center to be built at Mylan Park.
Included in Monday’s program was a demonstration by Mylan technicians and several 4-H members on how medications are mixed, formed and marked.
