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OTTUMWA -- Governor Terry Branstad has selected state senator Mark Chelgren of Ottumwa to be on a new education council.

Chelgren will be on the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or ‘STEM’ advisory council.  Lieutenant governor Kim Reynolds and University of Northern Iowa president Ben Allen are co-chairs.

The fundamental part of the 40 member council will be to get students interested in math and science.

“Math is one of those few things that is the most clear indicator of success or failure in your future life,” Chelgren told KTVO.  “I think it's important that we emphasize once again the basics because at this point we've seen some of those harder issues, more difficult subject matters, avoided by the kids."

The council is consisted of politicians, educators and entrepreneurs to get multiple views.

“It’s exciting to me that you have the traditional educational side of the equation with regards to presidents of the universities all the way down to the teachers directly being included.  We also have people from industry and business which allow us to get a lot of that technology in there.”

“These professionals come from a broad spectrum of the state’s education, business and civic sectors and will work together to lead the way toward a strong future for our state in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Governor Branstad in a press release Tuesday.  “This group was created to advise our office on ways to improve STEM education, STEM innovation and economic development.”

Below is a full list of the council.

The Executive Committee members of the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council are:

Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, Council Co-Chair

Ben Allen, President, University of Northern Iowa, Council Co-Chair

Jason Glass, Director, Iowa Department of Education

Debi Durham, Director, Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress

Teresa Wahlert, Director, Iowa Workforce Development

Gregory Geoffroy, President, Iowa State University

Sally Mason, President, University of Iowa

Rob Denson, President, Des Moines Area Community College

Raynard Kington, President, Grinnell College

John Carver, Superintendent, Van Meter Schools

Gail Wortmann, K-12 educator, Bloomfield

Don Frazer, Private employer, SynGest

Paul Schickler III, Private employer, Pioneer

Additional appointees to the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council are:

Lin Chape, Vermeer Manufacturing, Newton

Pat Barnes, John Deere, Bettendorf

Alissa Jourdan, Kemin, Des Moines

Rachel Hurley, Iowa Biotechnology Association, Johnston

Jonathan Wickert, Iowa State University College of Engineering, Ames

Victoria Sharp, University of Iowa, Iowa City

Dr. Douglas Dorner, Iowa Health Systems, Des Moines

Nancy Foerstel, Microsoft, St. Louis, Mo.

LeAnn Jacobson, Iowa Technology Association, Des Moines

Carolyn Boss, IBM, Clive

Jordan Cohen, University of Iowa, Iowa Innovation Council, Iowa City

Teresa Finken, Iowa Wesleyan College, Iowa City

Valerie Newhouse, President, Iowa Lakes Community College, Emmetsburg

Jeff Herzberg, Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency, Manson

Allison Gilchrist, St. Cecilia Elementary School, Ames

Gary Scholten, Principal Financial Group, Des Moines

Cindy Dietz, Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids

Craig Johnson, Iowa Academy of Science, Cedar Falls

Deb Dunkase, Iowa Children’s Museum, Iowa City

Katherine Swoboda, World Food Prize Foundation, Pleasant Hill

Kichoon Yang, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Haymarket, Va.

Isa Kaftal Zimmerman, Massachusetts Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, Boston, Mass.

Jon Ericson, ACT, Iowa City

Senator Brian Schoenjahn, Arlington

Senator Mark Chelgren, Ottumwa

Representative Sharon Steckman, Mason City

Representative Josh Byrnes, Osage