UEPC team publishes new research on Utah STEM Action Center in the book STEM Century

Researchers from the Utah Education Policy Center (UEPC)  — including center director and Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy Andrea Rorrer, Research & Evaluation Associate Julianne Zemaitis, Assistant Director of Research & Evaluation Ellen Altermatt, Research & Evaluation Associate Jeremy Acree, Associate Director Cori Groth, and School & District Lead Specialist Kody Colvin — published a chapter in  STEM Century: It Takes a Village to Raise a 21st Century Graduate – Utah Edition. The group’s co-authored chapter "STEM Action Center as Innovation Intermediary: Through the Lens of a Research Practice Partner" examines the Utah Stem Action Center (STEM AC) and its role as an innovation intermediary within Utah’s STEM ecosystem. The UEPC is housed in the College of Education. 

Drawing on UEPC’s eight-year partnership with STEM AC, the chapter explores the essential role innovation intermediaries play in supporting a thriving STEM ecosystem. The UEPC team provides an in-depth analysis of how innovation intermediaries like STEM AC act as catalysts—fostering knowledge sharing, building networks, developing and testing innovations, facilitating partnerships, mobilizing resources, and advocating for systemic change—to advance STEM education, workforce development, and the ecosystem’s capacity for adaptation and growth. 

As the team notes in the chapter, “STEM AC’s role as an innovation intermediary reflects its active and dynamic contributions to the state’s ecosystem...enhancing its capabilities and facilitating collective progress for innovation, engagement, and systemic improvement.”

In general, the chapter is a way for the UEPC team to share insights from years of working together with community and education partners. They explore how the STEM Action Center helps connect education policies, local programs, and evidence-based practices, ultimately contributing to the growing conversation around how to build strong, lasting STEM programs that benefit students, educators, and communities in Utah and beyond.

The publication is closely aligned with UEPC’s mission to bridge research, policy, and practice by conducting in-depth evaluations and providing professional learning opportunities. The center continues to works closely with educators, leaders, and policymakers to turn research into real-world solutions that support student success from early childhood through higher education.

We’re proud to celebrate Rorrer and the UEPC team for this achievement and for the meaningful impact they continue to make in shaping education across Utah through research-informed efforts!