“As a female in IT [Information Technology] I’ve noticed the playing field is still unbalanced with more males dominating the space and so I want to encourage young girls to not shy away from this choice”, says Christina Toufexis, STEM For Kids franchisee in Queens, New York.

Christina’s story begins with her college and career choices. After finishing high school, unsure of her future path, she followed her twin sister into pre-medical at a University. As she struggled that first semester trying to find her true career interests, she remembers and recalls the career changing moment:

“It was my father who sat me down with an article from the Daily News newspaper.

“There’s something they’re calling Computer Science”, he said in his calm and steady Greek accent,” and it sounds very promising as an up and coming career choice”. My dad was very pro education and wanted nothing more than to see his daughters be able to independently stand on their own two feet. That was all I needed – the rest is history.

After two decades of dedication in the field of Information Technology, Christina has been part of some monumental changes in the field. In her earlier days, she helped enhance application programs to support the Y2K (year 2000) preparations and today, her work is preparing the new millennium for the increasing rise of robotics and artificial intelligence.

“The field is dynamic and exciting and offers vast opportunities with the largest number of growing career choices.”

Her passion for encouraging our children to explore these rewarding fields, is what propelled her into offering STEM For Kids curriculum. To broaden the next generation’s horizons in education enrichment, she is collaborating with the community, schools, libraries and academic establishments.

“My sincerest hope is to show students how fun and exciting these fields can be, with programs like Movie & Game Making, Web Design, Computer Programming, Robotics and Biomedical Engineering. The future is bright for advanced technology and I’m hoping to play a small part in spring-boarding the next generation of pioneers.”

Christina is humbled and proud of her story and thanks her parents for giving her the chance to accomplish many things. She thanks her mentors who continue to guide her to greatness.

“But the story doesn’t end here – rather the next chapter begins”, she is excited beyond words to have her company Tech Girls Inc introduce the STEM For Kids curriculum in the Northern Queens, NY area currently serving Whitestone, Bayside, Little Neck and surrounding areas.