"Big Bang Theory" Star Mayim Bialik and DeVry University Host National HerWorld® Month to Inspire Hi

"Big Bang Theory" Star Mayim Bialik and DeVry University Host National HerWorld^®Month to Inspire High School Girls to Make a Difference through STEM

Events across the country respond to gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math career fields

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- It is projected that job opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) will grow more than 7 percent faster than job opportunities in non-STEM fields through 2018¹. Despite this positive employment outlook, women hold less than one quarter of STEM positions² today. To help reverse this trend, Mayim Bialik is partnering with DeVry University for National HerWorld^® Month to show high school girls how they can make a difference in their world through STEM.

"Big Bang Theory" Star Mayim Bialik and DeVry University Host National HerWorld(R) Month to Inspire High School Girls to Make a Difference through STEM (Photo: Business Wire)

Now in its 16^th year, DeVry University's HerWorld program educates high school girls about in-demand STEM careers and inspires them to achieve their college and career goals. Bialik will host a HerWorld event in New York City on March 8, one of the 24 HerWorld events taking place across the country this month. This year, it is anticipated that more than 7,000 young women from hundreds of high schools nationwide will participate.

"Science, technology, engineering and math have lacked visible female role models in the past, and high school girls often perceive the curriculum for these subjects as less approachable," said Bialik, who holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Neuroscience and currently stars in CBS's The Big Bang Theory. "HerWorld challenges this perception by giving teenage girls a platform to experience the excitement of STEM firsthand. It engages them in the unique stories of successful women who are making a difference by introducing new innovations and leading initiatives that change lives and inspire enthusiasm about the world of STEM."

Each high school girl attending will have the opportunity to interact with peers, participate in hands-on workshops, engage in confidence-building activities and hear from successful STEM female role models from such notable organizations as Cisco, Google and Microsoft.

HerWorld is an initiative of STEM Ready, a national grassroots movement established by DeVry University to introduce more high school students to STEM and careers in STEM. For more information, visit www.devry.edu/STEMReady.

About DeVry University

Founded in 1931, DeVry University is one of the largest, private sector universities in North America, with more than 70,000 students enrolled in the United States and Canada. The university's mission is to foster student learning through high-quality, career-oriented education integrating technology, business, science and the arts. With more than 90 locations, DeVry University delivers practitioner-oriented undergraduate and graduate degree programs onsite and online that meet the needs of a diverse and geographically dispersed student population. Home to five colleges of study, including Business & Management, Engineering & Information Sciences, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Media Arts & Technology, DeVry University's outstanding faculty members work in the fields that they teach, providing students with real-world experiences that prepare them for high-growth careers.

DeVry University is institutionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, www.ncahlc.org. DeVry University, a part of DeVry Inc. (NYS: DV) , is based in Downers Grove, Ill. For more information about DeVry University, find us on Twitter @DeVryUniv, Facebook /DEVRYUNIVERSITY or visit newsroom.devry.edu.

HerWorld is a registered trademark of DeVry Educational Development Corporation. ©2013 DeVry Educational Development Corporation. All rights reserved. Any other trademarks used herein are owned by their respective owners. 36 USC 220506.

¹ Beede, David, Tiffany Julian, David Langdon, George McKittrick, Beethika Khan, and Mark Doms. STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future. Rep. U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, July 2011. Web. <<a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.esa.doc.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fnews%2Fdocuments%2Fstemfinalyjuly14.pdf&esheet=50581899&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.esa.doc.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fnews%2Fdocuments%2Fstemfinalyjuly14.pdf&index=9&md5=1c2199752c5317fb441f99b2a2f00a31">http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/news/documents/stemfinalyjuly14.pdf>.

² Beede, David, Tiffany Julian, David Langdon, George McKittrick, Beethika Khan, and Mark Doms. Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation. Rep. U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, Aug. 2011. Web. <<a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.esa.doc.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Freports%2Fdocuments%2Fwomeninstemagaptoinnovation8311.pdf&esheet=50581899&lan=en-US&anchor=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.esa.doc.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Freports%2Fdocuments%2Fwomeninstemagaptoinnovation8311.pdf&index=10&md5=f78cfac6e832b2f388d23daff3a1b41d">http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/reports/documents/womeninstemagaptoinnovation8311.pdf>.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130301005620/en/

DeVry University
Melanie Wright, 215.591.5909
mwright1@devry.edu
or
MSL Chicago
Susie White, 312.861.5219
susie.white@mslgroup.com

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