The new Sunnie platform will work to inspire Gen Z women to explore STEM career opportunities.
On June 18 at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France, a new partnership was announced between Purdue University and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine brand. The partnership involves Purdue University becoming the university partner of Hello Sunshine’s new platform, Sunnie, which is aimed at Gen Z girls and women, to encourage them to pursue STEM education and careers.
According to an article on Purdue University’s website, Kelly Hiller, who serves as the chief marketing officer for Purdue University, was quoted as saying of the new partnership, “Purdue and Hello Sunshine share a powerful belief that when girls can see paths forward that reflect their interests, their dreams and their potential, there’s no limit to what they can imagine or achieve. At a time when social media can so profoundly shape how girls see themselves and their futures, we are excited to support a space that replaces pressure with positivity, where storytelling [meets] passions, like STEM, and girls are inspired to see themselves as confident, curious and capable of shaping the future.”
Sunnie is a platform that is both designed by and designed for Gen Z women. Its goal is to empower girls and women to let their voices be heard and to help them aspire to bright futures and careers, like those in STEM. Working together, Purdue and Sunnie will develop curriculum and content for the platform to achieve those goals. The platform will feature continuing education opportunities for those who serve as caregivers for Gen Z girls.
Lucy Flesch, the Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science, said, “The path to innovation begins long before college. As a scientist and an educator, I’ve seen how early exposure to STEM can spark ambition and agency — especially for girls who may not yet see themselves in these fields. It’s important to show them how it can connect to their passions — we unlock potential that might’ve otherwise gone unseen.”
Purdue University is a national leader in STEM education, and, as Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, said, “This directly supports a five-year goal of making Purdue the most desired STEM destination for young women. Gen Z girls are growing up in a world shaped by technology, and we want them not just to keep up — but to lead.”
For more information about Purdue University, visit the school’s website.