Janine Rush-Byers

Janine Rush-Byers has been working in the semiconductor industry with Micron Technology, Inc. for 22 years. Most recently, she began serving as the director of Global Strategic University Partnerships at Micron. As director, Rush-Byers views Micron’s efforts to collaborate with local Idaho universities and community colleges as vital to helping foster a skilled workforce and driving technological innovation within Idaho.

“These collaborations not only help Micron tap into top talent, aligning closely with our strategic expansion plans in Boise, but also play an important role in the community and educational support,” Rush-Byers said. “By collaborating with colleges and universities in my role, I help ensure a steady pipeline of skilled graduates who are well prepared to take on the challenges of the future and contribute to Micron’s success.”

Over the past year and a half, Rush-Byers has been busy playing an important role in establishing the Micron Semiconductor University Network.

“This initiative, championed by Micron, represents a collaborative effort to develop the next generation of workforce to support our Idaho expansion and to tackle the semiconductor industry’s challenges,” Rush Byers shared.

Rush-Byers noted that one of the largest challenges she’s faced has included developing patience and persistence.

“Initially, when collaborating with our team in Japan, we explored innovative methods to enhance our university partnerships,” she said. The collaboration was aimed at extending Micron’s reach to more students. “By 2018, we had sponsored our first women faculty members. Today we have a five-year, multi-university, dual-country solution called UPWARDS for the Future.”