DEVIN CANADAY
OUR FOUNDER
Devin Canaday is a dynamic individual who has managed to excel in multiple facets of his career. For more than a decade, he worked as a professional engineer for a tier-1 defense contractor. This experience seamlessly couples with over 20 years of experience as an educator. During his tenure within defense, Devin designed, helped manufacture, and served as project manager for a range of hardware programs to support the development of world-leading and cutting-edge radar systems. He has been responsible for developing several “Company First” innovations, and been the recipient of such awards as the Black Engineer of the Year Award’s Modern Day Technology Leader.
Leading the Way
Always one to leverage every minute of his day, Devin runs multiple businesses, one of which, The STEMpreneur, won the Minority-Business Achievement Award and was a finalist for the US Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year Award. As a certified coach, Devin has worked with hundreds of clients ranging from company executives to individual contributors. This skillset as a coach perfectly positions him to help clients through all stages of life navigate through critical career decisions.
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REACHING BACK
With a strong passion for STEM education, Devin and The STEMpreneur (TSP) Team takes advantage of every opportunity to give back to the next generation. Over the years, The STEMpreneur has supported educational efforts such as Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering, and the University of Virginia’s Equity Center outreach initiatives. These programs explore the possibilities of STEM careers with students at the K12 and collegiate levels, as well working with teachers. The STEMpreneur has a strong track record of facilitating professional development workshops and trainings for teachers targeting both content mastery and classroom management. The TSP team is now working to expand effective pipeline programming across the state of Virginia for the upcoming school year.
TRACK RECORD OF LEADERSHIP
Devin’s initial start in education began with his work as an interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg. For nearly 10 years, he taught history to patrons through 1st / 3rd person interpretation, tours, storytelling, historical performances, and hosting “Electronic Field Trips”. In his final three years with the organization, Devin worked with teachers from across the country to build their understanding of colonial history and aid with classroom content delivery.
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Personally, Devin’s pursuit of academic excellence in the classroom garnered him a free education from the University of Virginia, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and competed on the Varsity Track & Field team. He later continued on to pursue his Master’s in Technical Project Management. The dedication and hard work he put in on the track not only solidified his national ranking while in high school, but resulted in him being named Team Captain for Virginia’s Varsity Men’s Track team.
CALLED TO LEAD
Originally from Williamsburg, Virginia, Devin grew up in a single parent household and served as a role model to his younger siblings. In the Canaday house, a strong belief in God and Jesus Christ was the foundation and church attendance was not an option. With such a foundation, Devin continues to rely on his faith in Christ through every endeavor he takes on.
As evidenced by this quick summary of accolades, Devin is well recognized for his leadership, dedication, innovation, and commitment to training others to excel in life.
EQUITY IN LEARNING
Hands-on learning is crucial for several reasons like aiding in long term memory retention, making learning engaging and improving problem-solving skills. In an education context, providing hands-on learning opportunities ensures equitable learning outcomes by addressing the diverse learning needs and styles of the students. Equity in learning is required to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have access to the same opportunities to learn. It helps to bridge the achievement gap and foster a diverse, inclusive, and supportive learning environment that benefits all students.
EQUITY IN STEM
Equity in learning refers to the fair and inclusive distribution of educational opportunities, resources, and support to all students regardless of their backgrounds, abilities, or identities. In the context of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and STEAM (STEM + arts) education, equity means ensuring that all students have access to high-quality STEM/STEAM education and are given the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required for success in these fields. Equity in STEM/STEAM is vital for creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce and for increasing innovation and economic growth.