STEM PLUG powers a new generation of learners

Gilliam smiling while demonstrating his yellow STEM Plug’s 3-in-1 Hydrabot Robot Arm. — Gilliam demonstrates STEM Plug’s 3-in-1 Hydrabot Robot Arm during a presentation for students. (Submitted photo)

Rich Gilliam’s idea to encourage K-12 students to see themselves in STEM careers began with a children’s book and grew into STEM PLUG, an online platform of resources focused on strengthening STEM identity.

“Helping kids within STEM is not just a nice-to-have. It’s a need-to-have,” Gilliam said.

Gilliam founded STEM PLUG while he was still working in corporate science and engineering. In 2022, he published “Diversed in STEM,” whose characters helped young readers see themselves using science, technology, engineering and mathematics. He followed up in 2025 with “Robotic Adventures,” in which the characters develop a robot to help clean up the environment. To go with the book, Gilliam and his team created a robotics kit to help students and educators build a hydraulic robot connected to the storyline.

As STEM PLUG grew, Gilliam began looking for a graduate program that could help him connect his technical background with educational standards, learning design and entrepreneurship. His search led him to the UNC School of Education and its Master of Arts in Educational Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship program.

“My interest in the program came from wanting to bridge my technical experience with educational standards and really understand the education realm more deeply within technology,” Gilliam said. “Since I’ve been at Carolina, I’ve had advisers who have been part of STEM PLUG and have given me advice, and I’ve also been able to get funding that helped move the needle for us. It’s been a structure that has pushed us not only financially, but strategically, helping me understand education on a deeper level.”

That support has helped Gilliam move STEM PLUG from an early concept to a growing social impact venture with clearer strategy and stronger partnerships. He’s also expanded its reach through campus-based pitch competitions and grant opportunities — including support connected to Innovate Carolina and 1789, UNC’s Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub — as well as funding from NC IDEA.

Within the school, Gilliam built connections with faculty members, including Matthew Bernacki and Keith Sawyer. Those conversations helped him refine the venture’s direction, expand its books, robotics programming and educator partnerships, and think about future research possibilities and the long-term direction of his work.

“The work that I’ve done within the MEITE program has been significantly application-based,” said Gilliam, who received his master’s degree in 2026. “One of the things I’m going to take from the MEITE program and from my classes is continuing to understand the big picture and seeing where I can apply those concepts.”

2:27 PMClaude responded: A promotional image for STEM Solvers, a 10-book children's series by Richnovated, showing the series overview panel alongside an illustration of a young boy in…A promotional image for STEM Solvers, a 10-book children's series by Richnovated, showing the series overview panel alongside an illustration of a young boy interacting with a large robotic arm while a diverse group of children looks on.

Gilliam’s STEM Solver series, including “Robotic Adventures,” pairs children’s books with interactive robotics experiences designed to build STEM identity, confidence, and curiosity among K-12 students and educators. (Submitted photo)

Supporting educators, reaching students

Gilliam said the venture’s growth has been collaborative. That team-based approach, Gilliam said, has helped STEM PLUG expand its work with schools, after-school programs, museums and educator groups across North Carolina and beyond.

“The MEITE program shaped me to think bigger than just building a solution,” Gilliam said. “I now see STEM PLUG not just as a company, but as a collaborative movement focused on empowering students, supporting educators and building meaningful partnerships with schools, museums and districts to create lasting impact.”

STEM PLUG is increasingly focused on professional development for educators, essential to the organization’s long-term impact.

“Strong partnerships enable STEM PLUG to provide professional development on building our robots and using the books from a STEM identity standpoint,” Gilliam said. “From there, educators could co-create curriculum and make STEM PLUG products accessible to all learners.”

Other future projects include a framework book titled “STEM Lit” and exploratory work toward an AI-supported learning tool connected to STEM PLUG’s characters. The efforts are part of a broader ecosystem designed to help students — especially those who may not encounter STEM early or often — see what is possible.