aBOUT
Emily Stover DeRocco was a connector. She believed in “linking and leveraging” people and resources for the greater good. Whether in her role as Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor, the President of the Manufacturing Institute, or in any of her many leadership roles on corporate and academic boards, Emily believed in the power of work and the right for every individual to have the opportunity to “work hard at work worth doing.”
The DeRocco Fellowship program has been developed to honor the impact of Emily’s career in education and workforce development and to provide a pathway to leadership for young women in advanced manufacturing, the industry sector that was closest to Emily’s heart and the focus of the last 10 years of her career.
Emily Stover DeRocco left this world unexpectedly in 2021. The team of volunteers behind the DeRocco Fellows are colleagues and friends who are committed to seeing Emily’s legacy and impact continue. We hope you will join us in launching our first cohort of fellows in the summer of 2024!
DeRocco Fellows
The DeRocco Fellowship will offer women enrolled in an undergraduate program – at a university or a community college- the opportunity to experience the potential of an advanced manufacturing career firsthand.
The first cohort will be held in summer 2024.
DeRocco Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in four program components:
Summer Internship
Work as a paid summer intern at a leading advanced manufacturing company.
Mentorship
Be mentored by an advanced manufacturing executive and engage with a peer mentor.
Professional Development
Attend a mid-summer in-person professional development workshop and participate in regular development programming virtually.
Community
Participate in a community of and build a career network with like-minded individuals and industry leaders.
WHY WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING?
Representation
of Women
47%
30%
Source: 2021 Deloitte and Manufacturing Institute DEI Study
Manufacturing, a rapidly expanding sector in the U.S. economy, offers abundant opportunities with evolving technologies. Despite women making up half of the workforce, they comprise less than one-third of the manufacturing workforce, presenting untapped potential for both talented women and manufacturers.
hOW YOU CAN HELP
Interested in being involved? You can:
Be a DeRocco Fellow employer and hire a Fellow for a summer work experience.
Become a DeRocco Fellow mentor.
Share information about the DeRocco Fellowship with your students, employers, or others in your networks.
Donate. The DeRocco Fellowship is a 501(c)(3), and all donations are used directly in support of the Fellowship program.
Employer Commitment
DeRocco Fellows offers an opportunity for manufacturers to enhance their summer internship experience and establish a pathway for women undergraduates to pursue careers in manufacturing as they work with them during the summer of 2024.
There is no additional cost, beyond paying the intern’s salary, to the employer of a DeRocco Fellow.
Employers are asked to allow Fellows to participate in virtual professional development programming and mentorship throughout the summer. We estimate these experiences will require 3 to 5 hours per month of the intern’s time. In addition, a mid-summer in-person workshop is planned for the Fellows at a location to be determined. Two to three days, inclusive of travel, is the anticipated time commitment for the workshop.
Application Process
The DeRocco Fellowship is a competitive opportunity and interested interns will need to complete a short application to be considered. Employer partners can recommend interns they feel would benefit from the program to apply.
Interns should self-confirm that they meet the following eligibility before applying:
- Confirmed placement in an internship at a partner company in summer 2024
- Enrolled in a post-secondary program
- At least one full semester completed
- Are interested in pursuing a leadership career in manufacturing.
The application will close April 30, 2024, and interns selected for the fellowship will be notified by mid-May.
March-April
Interns self-confirm eligibility
early May
DeRocco Fellows selects interns
June
Fellowships begin!
March-April
Employer recommends interns apply
by April 30
Interns submit application
mid-May
Fellows notified of selection
