NEW K-12 OUTREACH DIRECTOR FOR NANOSTRUCTURES CENTER TO HELP PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SCIENCE CAREERS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - As part of its ongoing education outreach mission, the University of Arkansas Microelectronics-Photonics (MicroEP) graduate program has appointed Sarah Faitak as its K-12 education outreach director.

This position was created as a part of the Center for Semiconductor Physics In Nanostructures, (C-SPIN). This center, funded by a $4.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, combines the knowledge of physics, chemistry, engineering and other sciences to develop nanostructures, sub-microscopic structures that are assembled atom by atom. Nanostructure research develops smaller and faster components for computers and other technical equipment.

As the K-12 education outreach director, Faitak will develop avenues for reaching students from kindergarten to high school with this fascinating science. C-SPIN will offer programs that provide students direct contact with scientists in the classroom and through the Internet, as well as training and mentoring programs for teachers. Fun and exciting science competitions, such as BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) competitions will be encouraged through the support of C-SPIN.

"Our hope is to stimulate students throughout Arkansas to consider careers in science, math and engineering." Faitak said.

Faitak brings a wide variety of experiences in research and program development to the position. After graduating from Indiana University School of Nursing in 1978, Faitak held research coordinator positions at both University of Louisville School of Medicine and University of Arkansas for Medical Science. As director of corporate services and then director of marketing at Northwest Health Systems in Springdale, Faitak developed and implemented programs which brought health and wellness services to corporate sites. Faitak lives in Fayetteville with her husband, Martin, and two sons, Tom and Joey.