Cheri Burch served in the USAF as a computer programmer, then completed her B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science at the University of California, Riverside. She served as a Girl Scout leader, as well, at that time. After a move to OK, she worked in R&D at an oil company for several years, then switched to teaching Computer Science in the local high school. With a move to Albuquerque, she continued teaching high school computer science, then retired to pursue her primary mission, encouraging more girls to consider, investigate, and pursue STEM careers, particularly those in which women are underrepresented, physics, computer science, and engineering.
As a representative of NMNWSE, Cheri collaborates with partner organizations also focused on women empowerment and STEM Outreach in New Mexico. She represents NMNWSE with the American Association of University Women’s summer STEM camp for 7th-grade girls (Tech Trek NM), NM Out-of-school-time Network on their STEM Gender Equity Coalition, National Girls Collaborative Project, and volunteering with BEST Robotics, First Lego League, RoboRave, all computer programming events held for children in NM, as well as judging for NM Science and Engineering Fair, both in the region and the state.
