University of Iowa Assistant Professor of Counselor Education Allison Levine has been awarded a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to lead a five-year initiative aimed at expanding access to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers for youth with disabilities.

The project, titled Project Strengthening Training and Employment Models for Readiness in STEM within Vocational Rehabilitation (Project STEM Ready-VR), will advance an innovative, evidence-based training model that integrates virtual simulation, immersive video, artificial intelligence (AI), and asynchronous learning to prepare students with disabilities—and the professionals who support them—for success in STEM education and careers.

“This project is about increasing access and preparedness for students with disabilities to enter and succeed in STEM careers,” Levine says. “By combining virtual simulation with AI-driven feedback, we can help students and professionals alike build confidence and competence in real-world situations.”

The five-year initiative brings together a multidisciplinary team from across the College of Education and beyond. Levine serves as principal investigator, alongside Gerta Bardhoshi, co-director and project mentor; Ken Brown, Departmental Executive Officer (DEO) of the Educational Policy and Leadership Studies Department, who contributes expertise in AI and workforce engagement; Darrell Currington, manager of the College of Education’s Makerspace; and Maddi Brenner, an AI support team consultant in Information Technology Services. College of Education Dean Daniel Clay serves as co-investigator, supporting leadership development and long-term sustainability. Advisory board members include experts in vocational rehabilitation counseling, STEM education, as well as community partners including Greater Iowa City, Inc., and a member of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

The Iowa team will also collaborate with partners from West Virginia University and Methodist University, who pioneered an earlier training model for vocational rehabilitation counseling in the AIR4VR project.

Project STEM Ready-VR builds on successful models that use AI-driven virtual environments to help participants practice complex interpersonal and professional skills. Through immersive simulations, students, teachers, rehabilitation counselors, and employers can engage in realistic scenarios—such as discussing accommodations, problem-solving workplace challenges, or exploring STEM career pathways.

These interactive simulations allow students with disabilities to practice self-advocacy and communication skills in safe, supportive environments, while counselors, educators, and employers gain greater understanding of how to foster inclusion and accessibility in STEM settings.

The training will be accessible through UI Learn, offering free, on-demand modules that participants can complete at their own pace, expanding reach to communities across Iowa and the nation.

Over the next five years, Levine’s team will evaluate outcomes including improved knowledge, confidence, and skill application among educators, counselors, and employers, as well as workforce readiness, self-efficacy, and STEM engagement among students with disabilities.

“We want this training to be sustainable, scalable, and impactful,” Levine said. “Our goal is to build a national model that helps all involved—students, teachers, counselors, and employers—see and support the potential of students with disabilities in STEM.”

Project STEM Ready-VR reflects the University of Iowa’s ongoing commitment to innovation, inclusion, and workforce development, ensuring that all students have opportunities to pursue meaningful, long-term success in high-demand STEM fields.